Girls night out

Girl’s night out: having fun with your daughter while raising a woman of God by Michaelann Martin with MariAnna Martin

Girls, have you ever considered going on dates with your mum? I daresay you haven’t, but after reading Girl’s night out: having fun with your daughter while raising a woman of God you might be convinced otherwise.

Reading through this series of ‘dates’ for mothers and their teenage daughters was an interesting surprise. In a busy world it’s often too hard to set aside time to spend with our family and recognising that challenge saw Michaelann, with daughter MariAnna, Martin create a schedule that not only saw them spend time together as mother and daughter but also helped them grow as women of God.

Girl’s night out: having fun with your daughter while raising a woman of God contains the material for ten dates with your mum and they cover different aspects of the unique vocation of womanhood including: beauty, modesty, purity, fashion, romantic relationships and individual vocations. And each of these topics is covered in a uniquely feminine setting like whilst having manicures, shopping at the mall and in fancy restaurants (and that date includes your dad).

Each date also focuses on a ‘supermodel’ but instead of a skinny and scantily clad woman sauntering down the catwalk, these characters really supernatural role models and include St Therese of Lisieux, St Rita and Mary, the mother of God.

I was really struck by the simple elegance of this unique idea. This is book a fantastic idea and a fantastic book! My daughters may only be 2 years and 8months old respectively, but when they're older, we’re definitely working through Girl’s night out: having fun with your daughter while raising a woman of God.

This one is a must for all daughters and their mothers. You will both enjoy the fun aspects of the dates, as well as coming to know each other better and deepen your prayer life and the understanding of your unique vocation as women.

Honestly, I can’t recommend this book highly enough!

You can obtain this book here.

Smart Martha

‘Smart Martha’s guide for busy mum’s’ Tami Kiser

This book is engaging and interesting reading – I was able to read it cover to cover in one sitting.

Basically this book is practical advice on incorporating more ‘Mary’ moments into the vocation of mother’s which is often more ‘Martha’-like (cf. Luke 10:38-42).

‘Smart Martha’s guide for busy mum’s’ contains tips and reflections from Kiser’s own experiences, and also incorporates simple suggestions to focus yourself and your family life on Christ. From organising chores so as to maximise quality family time, making dinner a real communion, setting limits on TV, game, movie and music content this book covers it all.

Kiser also details how to foster Christ-centered children through measured approaches to toys, media, technology and chores. She gives tips on how to put family ahead of chores and still have a clean house and well organised life.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and am already trying to put it into practice within my own family. I highly recommend this book for all mothers, and mothers-to-be!

You can get this book from here.

Jonah and the whale

This craft activity is a lot of fun, even after you've finished making it! Jonah actually fits inside the whale.

What you'll need:
Tea bag box (that opens up and out on a long side)
Grey paper or card (otherwise white will be ok)
Toilet roll
Coloured paper
Pipe cleaner
Scissors
Glue
Grey and pink paint

Instructions:
Whale: Paint the tea bag box grey on the outside (if using white paper or card paint this grey on both sides). When dry, paint the inside of the box pink. The right side up for this craft is with the lid on top so that you can put Jonah inside without turning the whale upside down. Cut two two fins, stick to the sides and bend so that they sit out. Cut a tail shape and stick to back (I found it easier to cut out two shapes and stick them together from the curved end to about halfway. Then on the other end I stuck them to either side of the box at the back). Draw eyes and a blow hole on with a permanent marker.
Jonah: Glue a pink or skin coloured strip on paper around the top of the toilet roll for Jonah's face. Use another, wider and different coloured strip for Jonah's clothes. Make a hole on each side of toilet roll and thread through pipe cleaner. Using a brown strip of paper cut one long side into a fringe and glue to the very top of the toilet roll. Draw on a face.

Moses and the burning bush

Simple colourful craft activity that can be ready in a hurry.

What you'll need:
Template
Red, orange and yellow paint or cellophane
Glue

Instructions:
Print off template. Use cellophane or paint to decorate bush so that it looks as though it is on fire.

Moses and the jelly Nile

This is a very simple and edible way to learn about Moses.

What you'll need:
Blue jelly
Marshmallows
Jelly babies

Instructions:
Put previously set blue jelly into a bowl. Use a fork to stir it so it breaks up a bit. Cut a marshmallow in half and put a jelly baby onto the sticky side. Put the marshmallow into the jelly. Enjoy!

Joseph's collage coat

A bit of advanced preparation makes this activity run much smoother!

What you'll need:
Template
Cardboard
Scissors
Glue
Coloured paper, sequins, wool scraps etc
Masking tape

Instructions:
Print out template. Cut out and stick Joseph and stand onto cardboard for strength. Colour in Joseph. Fold stand in half and cut both black lines and lines of base of Joseph. Join stand to Joseph and use masking tape to strengthen if necessary. Decorate coat with coloured paper, sequins or wool scraps and use masking tape to stick onto Joseph.

Noah's rainbow

This is a simple craft activity that is only limited by your imagination.

What you'll need:
Paper
Pencil
Coloured pencils, crayons, paints, sequins or buttons
Glue
Cotton wool or hobby fill

Instructions:
Draw a rainbow and clouds to cover your paper. Get your kids to decorate using whatever supplies you have on hand. Some great suggestions are: gluing coloured buttons or sequins on in coloured tiers with cotton wool or hobby fill for clouds. Simple pencil or crayon colouring is also effective, especially if you use coloured paper.

Noah's paper plate ark

This activity requires a little bit of patience and a stapler!

What you'll need:
2 paper plates
Stapler
Scissors
Coloured pencils, textas or paints to decorate

Instructions:
Cut your paper plates in half. Staple two halves together around border with the bottom of the plates facing out. This will be the main part of the ark. Cut the remaining halves in half again parallel to cut edge from first step. Join the two topmost curves so that they form an oval shape with a split running up the middle for your ark to sit in (this is the water). Using remaining pieces, shape the top part of the ark by cutting two rectangles and using remaining curves to form a roof. Join all pieces together by securing ark into base and stapling top part to the boat. Decorate.

Apple and snake sponge painting

A thrifty craft activity that takes no time at all to do!

What you'll need:

Clean dishwashing sponges

Permanant marker

Scissors

Paper

Green and red paints

Instructions:

Draw a snake shape and an apple shape onto your dishwashing sponges. Cut out. Then after reading/describing the fall of Adam and Eve help your children to sponge paint the snake and the apple onto their paper. When you finish you can write on the page, something like: 'The snake tricked Eve into eating the apple. She gave some to Adam and God was very cross.' Depending on the age of your children you can make this statement more complex.

Creation collage

This is a simple activity that teaches children about creation.

What you'll need:
Scrapbook (or paper)
Pictures of natural objects
Photo of your child
Scissors
Glue

Instructions:
After reading/describing God's creation of the world encourage your children to make a collage of the things that God created, including a picture of themselves. Somewhere on the collage write: 'God made all of these things...and God made me!'

Special scrapbook

Our 4 and 2 year olds loved making a special scrapbook in which they could keep a record of their Bible craft activities.

What you'll need:
Scrapbook
Coloured paper
(you can also use sequins, stickers or whatever you have on hand)
Clear contact
Scissors
Glue

Instructions:
Cover scrapbook front and back covers and let your children decorate with their bits and bobs. When finished and the glue is dry, cover with clear contact. On first page inside you can get them to decorate a title page and write: '(Name)'s special book about God'. We also divided our scrapbook so that the front is for Old Testament activities and the back for New Testament.

Thrifty craft supplies

Any good 'useful box' of craft supplies is accumulated over time and for the most part the items used in our craft activities are readily available and might already be lying around the place at your house.

Collect: boxes of all shapes and sizes, toilet rolls, ice block sticks, beads, buttons, old magazines and newspapers, wool or string, plastic spoons, paper plates, plastic drinking straws, wooden pegs, googly eyes, glitter, cotton wool, material scraps, ribbons, coloured paper.

You'll also need: paints, pencils, scissors, glue, pipe cleaners, sticky tape, masking tape, permanent markers.
We also use garbage bags as our drop cloths and covers so the mess of our activities is easily cleaned up afterwards.

Start collecting today, you'll be amazed at how quickly your craft supplies grow!