The Tuckers Take Tennessee: 2011

Showing posts with label 2011. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Guest Blogger Melissa Nesdahl & A Giveaway!

12:00 AM |

Posted by Meghan

Tonight I sat with a heaping bowl of popcorn on my lap and a precious little girl snuggled in on each side of me. If your house is anything like mine, popcorn and movie nights are always a hit. And, because my girls are five and three, princess movies rank among their favorites. This evening’s pick was Cinderella.

Enamored by the beautiful dresses and idea of a dream prince, the girls watch with big eyes. As they do so, I praise God for them and the possibility of living this out. Do I want for them the Disney storybook wedding? No. But, like all Christian parents, I do want them to live out God’s Storybook wedding.

I pray that they would love the Lord and yoke themselves to another Believer. I pray that they would honor their bodies a temple of the Holy Spirit and respect healthy boundaries with anyone they date. I pray that they would value God’s design for sex to be in marriage alone so that the big white dresses mean something and their husband-to-be is truly a prince, as a son of the King.

I want the best for my kids because I love them. You want the best for your kids because you love them. And, my mission outside of being a Godly wife and mother is to share the Truth with others because God calls us to love them.

So how do I do this? Many years ago I was introduced to the DVD “Sex Has a Pricetag” by Internationally known abstinence speaker, Pam Stenzel. Speaking to over a half million students worldwide per year, Pam is the best there is. As I sat in my dorm room watching, others heard her powerful words combined with a fun sense of humor and made themselves comfortable on our futon couch. She was captivating, sharing incredible stories and statistics most of us had never heard and encouraging everyone to choose God’s best. For those who had sex before, this came in the form of “get tested for STDs, repent, set new healthy boundaries and live out recycled virginity because YOU CAN.” For those who were abstinent, this came in a not often heard, “GOOD FOR YOU!”

I fell into the latter category. Though I had been dating my boyfriend (now husband) from the age of 16, we both loved God and knew sex belonged in marriage so we honored that boundary. One of the girls sitting on my dorm room floor, however, was sexually active. Yet, we both finished the video inspired. I felt reinforced and affirmed in my decision. She understood her worth through God’s eyes and gained a new understanding of Christian love, encouraging her to make different choices for her future.

Because of this life-changing experience, I started volunteering in crisis pregnancy center ministry. I wanted to encourage every young person through their situation, provide them with often unheard truths, and help them to see their value in Christ to lead to transformed living. At the same time, I worked with youth choosing purity to encourage them to see that they were not alone and that reward would come in honoring Him.

Amazingly, as God would write out my life story, I connected and started working with Pam Stenzel. We both know that every young person needs encouragement and that every young person (regardless of their past) has the ability to make wise choices for their future. With this in mind, we recently wrote “Nobody Told Me: What You Need to Know About the Physical and Emotional Consequences of Sex Outside of Marriage.”

This book is perfect for every student regardless of the choices they have made. For those who have abstained, this book will offer a window into the heart of their peers, provide answers to difficult questions they still might have (and be afraid to ask), strengthen them to remain pure until marriage, and offer for them suggestions to help them live that out. For those who have made mistakes, this book will give them the opportunity to hear stories of young people struggling right along with them, but within that commonality our words will provide clarity where there was confusion, hope where there was pain, experienced forgiveness from a loving God, understanding that their past choices don’t have to define their future ones, and practical steps to redeeming their future.

To effectively deliver the message, Pam and I took years worth of teens’ shared stories and questions about God’s design for sex, Scriptural encouragement, media influence, peer pressure, abuse, pregnancy, STDs, emotional heartache, recycled virginity, and choosing abstinence until marriage and uniquely formatted into a fun Facebook-like format. Using this creative style, we meet teens (and all who love them) where they are at and provide them with accurate answers to today’s tough questions so that they aren’t the next to tearfully say to God, their parents, a physician, or a future spouse, “Nobody told me. I didn’t know.”

Some of you may not have teens (12 and up) yet. Good news, the book is FOR YOU too. Why? Because we live in a rapidly changing world. The consequences that today’s adults faced as a teens are no longer the same as the teenagers of today. The number of STDs has risen, media exposure delivers wildly different messages, and the people in the home and church haven’t always known how to effectively deliver an abstinence-based message that is both glorifying to God and yet honest and powerful enough to pack a punch with the students who hear it. As parents, mentors, volunteers, youth workers, crisis pregnancy counselors, etc. we MUST know not only the Scriptural backing, but the current statistics, all the failures of birth control often touted as “safe sex,” and successful “helps” to encourage abstinence until marriage. With this information, you can have more educated and effective conversations with your children (or any other teen you love) when the time comes. You need to be prepared to explain all the “whys” so that you are the person they trust and want to talk to.

So, as you parent the children God has entrusted to you, be sure to use this book. It will bring everyone up to speed and successfully communicates a message that empowers ALL students to choose self-respect and Godly choices from this day forward, allowing them to one day experience God’s Storybook wedding.

Thank you, Meghan and readers, for allowing me to be a part of your day!

In Him,

Melissa Nesdahl

Melissa Nesdahl is a happily married wife, mother, author, writer, and volunteer who believes that when people recognize their identity and value in Christ they will experience life to its fullest. Combining her passion to write with her love of sharing Truth, Melissa frequently updates her blog, writes product and curriculum with Pam Stenzel, and contributes to ModSquad. Melissa has served as a crisis pregnancy center counselor since 1999 and currently serves on the Board of Directors.

And now on to the giveaway! Melissa is generously offering a copy of her book for YOU! So, make sure you enter for your chance to be reading this amazing book in your living room. How do you win?

Required Entry:

Share with us why you would like to read this book.

Extra Entries:

"Like" Nobody Told Me on Facebook

Become a follower of Melissa's blog

Follow my blog via GFC (at the bottom)

"Like" The Tuckers Take Tennessee on Facebook

Follow me on Twitter

Tweet about this giveaway with: "Nobody Told Me book #giveaway with @meghantucker & @melissanesdahl Ends 2/2"

Labels: 2011, giveaways, guest bloggers |

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Monday, January 31, 2011

Praying For Your Child to Love God's Word

2:00 PM |

Posted by Meghan

A couple of weeks ago I posted about how I'm venturing through the book, "Praying The Scriptures For Your Children". I'm just loving it and finding so much I need to be praying for that I'm not - especially for my children.

I love how my oldest is really interested in prayer, the bible, and God's love. I must remember to continue to be praying for him to love God's word more and more everyday.

Giving Thanks by megs3782, on Pix-O-Sphere

The next chapter I read through was "Praying For Your Child to Love God's Word".

Psalm 119:11 says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

"A love of Scripture can begin at an early age. We (as mom's) love the snuggle time we get when we "read-aloud" to our children and then tucking them into bed. What better book to read than a colorfully illustrated children's bible. These bedtime rituals are only the beginning. Psalm 119:105 likens God's word-- his laws, his commandments, his promises--to a lamp that sheds light on our path. Perhaps nowhere is this guiding light more necessary (or more welcome!) than when our children have ourgrown our laps, when peer relationships, academic challenges, and other pressure points can generate a cloud of darkness or confusion in their lives."

I really have tears streaming from my eyes. We only have a short amount of time to instill the word in our children. To tell them of God's great love. To teach them right from wrong. And how scary it is when we dont take full advantage of teaching them EVERYDAY. What is more important than this? Absolutely Nothing!

Our prayers are the first line of defense against these clouds. Its obvious that Satan wants to destroy our families and he is always on the lookout for ways to sow seeds of destruction.

The book shares 3 Prayer Principles for Praying For Your Child to Love God's Word:

Praying for your children to know, love, and use God's word is one of the most effective ways to pray for their spiritual protection.
When you ask God to hide his word in your child's heart, you are asking him for the blessings of wisdom, protection, and freedom.
Enlisting the support of a praying friend multiplies the power of your prayers and invites God into your prayer circle.

This chapter shares some prayers we can use to pray for our children:

Heavenly Father.....

"Let _____________________ keep your words and store up your commands so that he will live. Cause him to guard your teachings as the apple of his eye, and let them be written on the tablet of his heart."

"Show __________________that your way is perfect and your word is flawless. Be her sheild as she takes refuge in you."

"Show ____________________that all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness."

Today, I'm linking up with Hip Homeschool Hop (as always for every Tuesday). I love this group!

Labels: 2011, bible study, faith, Hip Homeschool Hop, homeschool, prayer |

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Sunday, January 30, 2011

Multitudes On Monday: #243 - 266

10:00 PM |

Posted by Meghan

We live in the Nashville area. You know, the south. We are southerners. But why is it we have gotten more snow than parts of the northeast has? So random, but fun as well. This past week we had about 6 inches of snow, and for those who live in Tennessee, that is alot of snow at one time. But it makes for an awesome photo prop! Here are a few from our week.

So, in all of this white stuff, even though I'm ready for spring (like, so bad!) I'm reminded I have lots to be thankful for.

January 25th:

243...watching my 5 year old do his school work on the dry erase board

244...my husband - love him!

245...the smell of brownies baking in the oven

January 26th:

246...6 inches of snow

247...my Tervis Tumblr

248...the ability to have running water - so many in other parts of the world dont

249...being warm in our heated home

January 27th:

250...a random kiss from my husband

251..."I love you's" from my boys

252...woodwick candles

253...a morning of getting my hair done

January 28th:

254..."randomness" from friends

255. organizing my kids artwork

256. Learning so much from the #savvyblogging team

January 29th:

257...Winning this awesome giveaway from Darcy

258...warm socks on a cold winter day

259...naps

January 30th:

260...An amazing church family.

261...A random call from my sisters just to say "hi"

262...Our Tommee Tippee products. We LOVE these things!

January 31st:

263...carwashes - goodness, it needed it after all the salt thats been on the roads

264...forgiveness

265...Easy, Homemade Mac-N-Cheese

266. The sound of my boys wrestling upstairs in the playroom. So cute.

Labels: 2011, faith, Multitudes On Monday |

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Saturday, January 29, 2011

Sponsor Spotlight: Poppie Lane

12:00 AM |

Posted by Meghan

Another awesome sponsor I'm so excited for you guys to meet!

Meet Lauren from Poppie Lane!

Hi, I'm Lauren - the girl behind the computer screen, fabric scraps, headbands, packing tape, and hot glue burns. I created Poppie Lane in September of 2010 and I'm so glad I did!

It started as a way for my husband of over 5 years (the most wonderful man in the world fyi) and I to raise funds for our adoption. We are in the homestretch of the adoption process and are bringing home a sweet little boy from Ethiopia in a just a couple months. Tucker M. is almost 3 months old and the cutest thing you've ever set your eyes on. In the words of one woman who spent time with him in the orphanage "he has the most mesmerizing eyes." He does, too! Big, beautiful, chocolate eyes that melt my heart. All Poppie Lane profit goes to bring our little bundle of joy home to us forever!

So, what else do I enjoy? Well, aside from crafting and blogging and all things Africa and adoption... I love my family, my friends, our youth ministry, our 2 kitties, cooking, baking, flowers, puppies (someday I am convinced I will get one) and Jesus!

Labels: 2011, adoption, Sponsor Spotlight |

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Thursday, January 27, 2011

3 In 30 - Closing Comments, February Goals, & Giveaway -

9:00 PM |

Posted by Meghan

Well folks, its the end of our first month.

WOW! It flew by and we have loved every moment of getting to know each of you, finding new blogs to follow, the encouragement, and the fun Twitter party we had a few nights ago.

All that to say, its time to give our "Closing Comments"

So, what are your "Closing Comments?

What is your overall reaction to this month?

Did you tackle the three goals you had listed in the beginning of the month?

What would you have done differently?

Looking Ahead:

What are your three goals for February?

How do you plan to tackle them?

Have you suggested joining 3 In 30 to someone?

{Take a look at these posts by Ashley on Setting Smart Goals}

Have we got a fun giveaway for you! For those who didn't win anything at the Twitter party Tuesday night or those who weren't able to make it, this is for YOU! Anyone can enter this giveaway. (Must live in the US for shipping purposes)

One lucky winner will win a BusyBodyBook Planner.

So, how do you win?

*Comment on this post why you'd like to win this planner.

* "Like" 3 In 30 on Facebook

* Tweet about this giveaway with the following: "Win a BusyBodyBook Planner from @3n30 & @busybodybooks - Ends 1/28 at 9pm CST. #3in30 http://tinyurl.com/23ncmu4

{You have until Friday, 1/28 at 9pm CST to enter)

How Do You Link Up?

1. OPTIONAL: Add the 3 In 30 button to your site or Facebook page.

2. OPTIONAL: "Like" our Facebook Page by clicking here

3. OPTIONAL: Follow us on Twitter by clicking here

4. MANDATORY: Comment on at least the person linked above you and let them know you're coming by from 3 In 30. Comment & Follow on as many as you'd like!

Got questions? We'd love to hear them! Email us:

threeinthirty (at) gmail (dot) com

(NOTE: This link-up has been extended until Feb 2nd at 11:59pm CST - Make sure you get your February goals listed and you link up as well for those. Don't have a blog? Totally fine! We are active on our Facebook page. Feel free to link up your Facebook page or Twitter accounts as well.)

Not sure what is 3 In 30 is? Thinking about joining in with us starting February 1st? Click here for more info.

Labels: 2011, 3 In 30 |

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