Motherhood - Monica Ritchie

Cut Back

May 3, 2020 by Monica Ritchie

It’s spring here in Minnesota, which means that we’re all gardening! Part of preparing our landscaping is to cut back the previous years growth. We do this so that the plant can thrive in the new season. We cut the plant back to just the essentials. Recently, there has been an excessive amount of cut back in our own lives. The economy, jobs, our health and our social lives. It has been cut back, down to the essentials. Now, there is talk of things opening back up and pressing restart on it all has God’s word’s ringing in my ears. …

How to read the Bible with your kids

May 3, 2020 by Monica Ritchie

Have you ever wondered how to read the bible with your kids? You want to do it, but just aren’t sure how or where to start? Here a few simple tips on how to read the Bible with your kids! First, know this; you don’t have to be perfect! You don’t have to know all the answers to do this! My motto is this “do the best you can, when you can!” and that applies here too! Also, if you feel like your kiddo isn’t paying attention or is playing with a toy or is distracted during this, don’t worry! …

Perhaps you were created such a time as this

April 14, 2020 by Monica Ritchie

This kids and I have been reading the story of Esther this week. It is one of only two books in the Bible named after a female. The other is Ruth. If you’d like to learn more about the books of the bible, head HERE for an easy to follow chart. You’ll also see that Esther is a form of written Biblical history and presented to us as such. The Main Theme If you’re unfamiliar with the story of Esther the overarching message of the book is the truth that God is sovereign in his love and care for his …

Two Questions To Ask When Your Child Is Hurting

February 7, 2020 by Monica Ritchie

Question : When Does Momma Love you? Answer : All the time. Question : Who Loves you the most? Answer: Jesus As our kids get bigger, their hurts get bigger. They become more complex, more emotional. No less real of course, but feels different – bigger. And when your kid hurts, oh my, does it break a momma heart. 2 Here are two Questions to ask your kids when they’re hurting. 1. When does Momma love you? and I make them, I taught them to answer “All the time”. My hope is that this reminds them that when they hurt, …

Fruitfulness Vs. Happiness

January 23, 2020 by Monica Ritchie

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about fruitfulness vs. happiness and how they don’t necessarily go hand in hand. We see a lot of #thehappynow hashtag trending on social media and that’s not wrong. But what about when the path we’re on isn’t necessarily happy, but it’s fruitful? I have been in a season the past few months, one circumstance I’m in doesn’t make me super happy, but I know it will make me fruitful. So, I endure. I persevere the very best I can. Put in that hard work, and truthfully, amongst the struggle, I find deep joy. As …

Start Before You’re Ready

January 19, 2020 by Monica Ritchie

“Start before you’re ready” that’s what I had written on a post it note and stuck on my desk before I started blogging. Because if I had waiting until I was ready, I’d never do it. I have heard so much about how people want to do this or that, follow their dreams and do “the thing” but they’re just too afraid, they’re just not sure. I get it, I’ve been there too, but the only way to know, the only way to do it, is to start! Even before you’re ready! The reality is, is that you’re going to …

To Have and to Hand Hold

July 19, 2018 by Monica Ritchie

I don’t know about you, but we’ve reached the point in the summer where the excitement of being together all day everyday is becoming a little less than consistent beams of pure joy and delight. I’m not speaking just for myself but for my kids as well. They’re tired of seeing my mug all day and a little less than enthused at times to see each others. I had shared that at one point, one kid was upset because the other wouldn’t give them a long enough smell of their stuffed animal. Yup, a long enough smell. Bet you …

The Mercy Pass

February 19, 2018 by Monica Ritchie

Parenting is hard, like, really hard. I am by no means an expert. I still have little littles and I want to be clear I have not mastered nor will I ever master this gig. I am forever learning and growing in my parenting. However, I do want to share with you something that has been a God send to me over the past year. It’s called The Consequence Jar. Its nothing fancy and I’m sure you’ve heard of them before and seen them scattered throughout Pinterest. It’s a mason jar (or any kind of jar) with strips of paper …