Sub-Total: $0.00
_______________________________________________
Have you ever felt frustrated about trying to instill Christian values in your children while you’re in the throes of just trying to take care of them and be able to find time for a shower? Is it hard to sometimes feel positive and excited about your own faith, while living in the midst of the chaos because of those beloved kids God gave you? If so, my friend Courtney’s book, which is my next summer pick, is going to bring encouragement and hope and inspiration into your spirit today. Just the title of her book alone – In This House We Will Giggle – brings a smile to my face. So take a moment to hear from Courtney’s heart below, and then be sure to check our her book!
Today’s giveaway is so fun! Courtney has offered to give away not only a copy of her book, but a set of her brand new Virtue cards for kids!! (see description at end of post).  To enter to win,  leave a comment on my blog sharing one way you bring laughter and God’s light into your home with your kids!
_______________________________________________
One day, I did the dreaded afternoon grocery store run with my two kids. It was around 4:00 pm and I had no idea what was for dinner. And because I clearly like to torture myself, I took two hungry kids to Publix to pick out dinner.
How many times do I have to learn this is a bad time to shop?
This story is actually a good one. As three cranky humans entered the grocery store, I noticed an elderly woman struggling to get two grocery carts separated. I jumped over quickly and separated the two carts for her and then gave her a sincere smile and wished her a great day.
As I turned back around, my cranky kids had transformed. They were not moving or speaking or whining. They were smiling. And Ella, gave me this nod-smile combo. It was her look of approval. At such a small age, she realized that mom made a great choice – a small gesture that lit up the heart of another human in our path.
We want to be a light for Jesus wherever we go. We want to use our time, talents, energy, money and everything we’ve got to glorify Him. We want to be on the lookout for others needs far above others.
That is my utmost desire for our family, but if I’m honest – it’s hard to do. Life gets in the way. My kids’ needs get loud. My selfish desires get in the way. Just getting kids fed and in the bed seems almost impossible some days.
So, how in the world can we do it? How do we shine a light for God when we often don’t feel we are enough? I had these same questions and then I made a decision to just to do it – as we went about life. I was determined to find a way to “shine our lights” as we went through our communities. And make it a part of who we are – not just what we do.Â
Over the last several years, our family has fallen in love with shining God’s light and finding ways to share simple ideas with other families much like ours. The best part? I am watching virtues and values like generosity and service become engrained in my children not through lectures, but through heartfelt experiences. They are getting a vision of real faith.
You have what it takes to be a light – right where you are. You don’t have to change anything. As you go about your life, you and your family can impact so many right around you. Just pray that God will reveal the needs and invite your children to participate.
Whether working from home or at home. Whether two kids or eight kids, homeschool or public – it just doesn’t matter. God has crafted us all very capable. If we take just a second to look up from ourselves, we will see everyone is in need. And I’ve come to experience it has very little to do with our ability anyway – it’s about being willing to deliver his message to his people in his timing.
Just a warning… as you start out to “light up” and help others, your hearts will be the ones transformed most of all.Â
_______________________________________________
Courtney DeFeo believes our families can light up the world. As a former marketing professional, she lives in a constant brainstorm with herself and suspects it’s the route of her migraines. She loves watching Jesus at work. She is the creator of Lil Light O’ Mine – a small business that empowers moms and changes little lives through innovation in the home. Some of her most notable creations are Ella (age 9), Larson (age 6), ABC Scripture Cards, #LightEmUpActs and In This House, We Will Giggle. Her house is a wreck and she hates to cook. A graduate of Auburn University, she adores her hot, Georgia Bulldog husband. She posts entirely too many photos of her animated girls on Instagram. Connect with Courtney anytime atÂ
_______________________________________________
What do indoor picnics and funny face contests have to do with loving Jesus?
More than you realize!
As a mom in the throes of parenting, Courtney DeFeo believes that instilling virtues in children starts with laughter, not lecture. That perspective propelled her to create this idea-packed book, in which she offers motivating reflections, real-life stories, and a sandbox full of inventive ways to help you turn your kids’ hearts toward God.
Each chapter focuses on one virtue that is key for developing your child’s character. Along with insights into how this virtue plays out in the nitty-gritty of life, Courtney includes a memory verse, activity ideas, and discussion questions to reinforce that virtue throughout the month. Here you’ll find a full year of ways to draw your children closer to God through delightful antics like Family Olympics, One Fancy Feast, and Light ’Em Up. In This House, We Will Giggle shows you how to capture the hearts of your children through fun—so that they experience the goodness of Christ, the joy of following Him, and the difference they can make in the lives of others. (Water balloons not included!)
Virtue Cards are a set of 25 scripture-based memory cards featuring timeless virtue paired with coordinating NIV verses. Designed for the mom’s style and the child’s heart, Virtue Cards serve as a great learning tool for families as they attempt to translate big ideas in little, every day ways. Twelve the of the 25 virtues coordinate with those outlined in In This House We, Will Giggle and provide a great visual for those using that mostly teaching tool.
You might also want to check out her beautiful Scripture Cards for kids, which helps bring scripture to life at home! Click here to check them out on Amazon.
To enter to win a free book and set of Virtue cards, Â leave a comment on my blog sharing one way you bring laughter and God’s light into your home with your kids!
30 Comments
Tracie Miles is a bestselling author and the Director of COMPEL Training with Proverbs 31 Ministries. She helps women grow stronger in their faith, pursue the life of purpose God designed them for and live a life of peace, joy and happiness despite their circumstances.
Subscribe to Tracie’s Blog
Receive the Living Unbroken Battle Plan Workbook for free if you subscribe to Tracie’s blog today!
Tracie's Books
Sounds like a wonderful book! I would love to win this for my daughter!
We play indoor tag :0.
Would love a copy of this book. I’ve recently realized we do not laugh like we used to. It almost seems forgotten- yet sometimes I run through the house and spray my girls with silly string. Yes its messy but still fun. This book is much needed in our lives right now
I love those moments of laughter and pure joy with my family… they are grown now.. and I have one grandchild who we have dance parties together at age 2 and many times there is NO music. Laughing , loving and enjoying the life God has blessed us with and the moments we share. would love this book
This looks like exactly what we need after our extremely stressful last couple of years. What a gift this will be for whomever wins it! I 2ould love to share this with our adopted daughter and grandkids.
I would love to win this for one of my daughter in-laws. I didn’t have girls, I had all boys, but I have awesome daughter inlaws, and they are great mothers to my grandkids, and they each have a daughter and would love to get them started on something like this.
We love having pillow fights with the nice couch pillows ;-).
Would love a set of virtue cards!!
After being snowed in for 2 days with no hope of a snowplow in sight my two boys and I pulled the cushions off of our couch and used them as “sled” to go down our very steep stairs. 30 years later we still giggle about our “sledding party. “
We play games together. It’s so hard to find the time to focus on fun family events anymore. I’m going to get this book!
The book sounds wonderful!! Can’t wait to read it. I sure wish she had made these cards when my children were little. My grand kids would love them now. lol
May God Bless you!
In This House, We Will Giggle! Love this title, it in it’s self would inspire us all to smile. What a delight .
We are a family that have learned to giggle more, through God’s light ,friends and family. What hope we can share with those right in front of us.t.
Working with kids in Sunday School, I know how important it is for me to walk the talk and knowing that the light that the kids see is Jesus in me. By sharing in the kids ministry, the cards would be beneficial too. Thank you for sharing.
I could use the cards and the book to share with my grandies and their mama’s. LOVE LOVE the title and what it implies.
why what an eye opening experiences love that
We get together for family meals and look through old picture books or have game time. It always brings smiles and laughter to our faces and sharing the memories of the past.
In my home we sing a lot and laugh at our own mistakes. Laughter is good medicine!
My kids really enjoy their bedtime routine. After we’ve brushed our teeth and put on on our pj’s I tuck them into bed with a song. Normally it’s a Disney movie, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast etc. and they listen to that to fall asleep. I’ve also been singing them some Children’s biblical songs I grew up with like Jesus loves me etc. This really gives my kids the peace they need to settle down and fall asleep as I sing songs and prayers over them. It’s one of the ways I bring light and laughter into our home.
We stop and laugh at the silly things we do. Like yesterday I dropped a pair of shorts on my daughter’s head which went right through the leg hole and waist and just sat on her neck like a weird scarf.
My 6 year old son and I spread giggles, even on the crazy busy days, he changes my perspective. He has such an amazing spirit, finds so much joy! Great book for the days when I laugh only on the outside.
Our cats bring alot of joy and laughing into our home. God’s gift of pets are something we cherish.
We love to do tickle fights!
I would love to bless my daughter with this book and those cards. She is a momma of 3 girls who are 12, 2, and our newest princess was born 2 months ago. My daughter is doing a beautiful job on raising these girls, and they bring a ray of sunshine when they walk in the room. My daughter and granddaughters bring laughter and God’s light into the home through dancing and singing. They sing so much, that my 2 year old granddaughter sings when she is actually “talking” to you! 🙂
What a great title of a book! I’d love to wive this to my son and daughter -in – law as they raise their family of boys 3 and 11 months and 1 on the way. 🙂
We love to dance and sing to worship songs!
I am a new mom so right now it is singing and fun, silly dancing in the house! Would love this book!
Oh I so need this book! This summer I had 4 of my grandkids, ages 10 to 3, all day. I had lots of activities planned but would so like to include more things that would bring joy and share Jesus. 3 of them are back in school now, but with me after school. I would love to share the book with their mom also.
Good morning,
I would love to win a copy of this book as I feel it would help my alcoholic & drug addict husband who is still a “baby” in the Lord. Our home goes from one extreme of total chaos to total silence. He loves watching Christian children’s movies and praise & worship and he relates pretty well to kids.
I have taught my children the value of laughing at yourself…..my Grandchildren, too.
I lived with my daughters,son-in-law and grandchildren when I was going thru treatment for squamous Cell carcinoma of the Anus so you can only imagine the jokes….you know the rear-end variety of jokes…those type of jokes….not crude, just in fun. My grandson, who was 9 at the time even drew a cartoon of a joke about it and yes, I do still have it. By the way, I AM working on my 7th year Cancer free….no Joke! I thank my Father God for bringing me through all of that….and it Continues! I have a LOT of stories to tell and am working on making more stories!
Been struggling with finances lately & the possibility of being laid off at my job before the holidays. But I know God will provide. When He closes one door He opens another. God is good all the time and all the time God is good