What Makes My Kids Cry Today

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  • October Meal Plan – Gathering Around Grace, One Dinner at a Time

    October Meal Plan – Gathering Around Grace, One Dinner at a Time

    Hey Mama,

    October is here. That cozy, chaotic mix of crisp mornings, scattered socks, fall candles, and at least one child crying because someone else picked the pumpkin they wanted.

    If September was survival mode, October feels like a breath. It’s the season of warm meals, crockpots, and the holy hush that falls over a noisy kitchen when the food is finally on the table.

    But let’s be honest… it also brings sports practices, early sunsets, and the eternal mystery of why there are so many half-open snack bags in the pantry.

    That’s why this month’s meal plan matters.

    It’s not just about saving money (though we’re definitely doing that). It’s about reclaiming the table as a place of peace. A place where grace is served up with garlic bread, and where love looks like remembering who doesn’t like sweet potatoes (again).

    This meal plan is budget-conscious, Aldi/Walmart-friendly, and grounded in real life. No fancy ingredients. No red sauce battles. Just real dinners for real families — rooted in faith and flavored with hope.

    📅 October 1–7

    • Sloppy Joes & Chips
    • Pasta Bake & Garlic Bread
    • Breakfast for Dinner
    • Baked Potatoes w/ Cheese & Bacon
    • Chicken Fajita Flatbread
    • BBQ Chicken Drumsticks & Rice
    • French Bread Pizza

    📅 October 8–14

    • Stir-Fry Rice w/ Veggies & Egg
    • Baked Ziti w/ Veggies
    • Quesadillas w/ Salsa & Chips
    • Meatball Subs & Fries
    • Cheesy Potato Casserole
    • Chicken Pasta
    • Chili w/ Cornbread

    📅 October 15–21

    • Turkey Rice Casserole Bake
    • Chicken & Stuffing Casserole
    • Mac & Cheese w/ Peas & Fruit
    • Flatbread Pizza
    • Breakfast Hash
    • Enchilada Soup & Tortilla Chips
    • Italian Sausage Pasta

    📅 October 22–28

    • Cheesy Beef & Rice
    • French Toast & Eggs
    • Stuffed Shells w/ Garlic Toast
    • Cheesy Pasta w/ Bacon Bits
    • Potato Soup & Sourdough Bread
    • BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
    • Leftovers

    📅 October 29–31

    • Naan Pizzas
    • Rice & Beans w/ Cheese
    • Treat Meal 🎃 (Because we survived the month, and also… Halloween.)

    🙏 A Note to the Mom Planning Dinner Again

    If you feel like dinner is the chore that never ends — I get it.

    But this month, I’m reminding myself that even a Tuesday night casserole can be sacred.
    Even leftovers can be love.
    Even meal planning — with all its grocery math and kid preferences — can be a quiet act of faithfulness.

    📖 Scripture to Hold This Month:

    “You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” —Psalm 145:16

    Faith at the Table

    Mama, it’s not just about feeding bellies. It’s about feeding souls.

    Your table doesn’t have to be Pinterest-worthy. It doesn’t even have to be clean. What matters most is that you’re showing up. With love. With faith. With five minutes before someone cries again.

    Every time you gather your family—even in the middle of the mess—you are building something holy. You’re modeling what it means to serve, to nourish, to create rhythm in the chaos.

    You don’t have to do it perfectly.

    You just have to do it with heart.

    Let’s Fall into a New Rhythm

    This plan was made for busy, beautiful, real-life moms like you. The ones who care enough to show up even when they’re worn thin. Who serve chicken again because it fits the budget. Who pray over the pots and the people.

    Want the plain text grocery list and recipes?

    Grab them in the Free Resources tab or sign up below for direct-to-inbox delivery every week. No guesswork. No stress. Just one less thing on your plate.

    A Blessing for Your October:

    May your meals bring warmth, your table bring peace, and your faith carry you through every busy, beautiful evening. And when it’s loud, sticky, or just plain hard—may you remember: He is still with you. Yes, even over the chicken nuggets.

    With grace & a full plate,

    Lizzie

    Mom of Five, Fall Meal Plan Fanatic, and God’s Work-in-Progress

  • 🌱 Small Seeds, Big Faith: Planting Spiritual Habits in Your Kids

    🌱 Small Seeds, Big Faith: Planting Spiritual Habits in Your Kids

    Parenting can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to nurturing your children’s faith. We want to raise kids who love Jesus, but between school, work, activities, and the everyday chaos of family life, it can feel like there’s never enough time or energy.

    The good news? Faith grows in the small, simple moments.

    You don’t need a perfect family devotional setup or hours of free time. All it takes is planting little seeds — small, intentional acts that point your children toward God’s love. Over time, those seeds take root and grow into a strong foundation of faith.

    🎧 Listen to the full episode right here:

    https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/67937551/download.mp3

    🌼 Why Small Moments Matter

    In Matthew 13:31-32, Jesus shares the parable of the mustard seed — the tiniest seed that grows into a large tree. This is a beautiful reminder that even small acts of faith can have big impact.

    Sometimes, we think teaching our kids about God requires grand gestures or perfectly structured family devotionals. But often, God works through the everyday:

    A prayer whispered at bedtime, A Bible verse read during breakfast, A conversation about kindness while driving to soccer practice.

    These ordinary moments can shape a child’s heart just as powerfully as a big event.

    🌱 Four Practical Steps to Plant Seeds of Faith

    Here are four simple, actionable ways to help your kids grow in their relationship with God.

    Step 1: Start Small

    “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” — Zechariah 4:10

    It’s easy to feel like you’re not doing enough. Instead of trying to overhaul your whole routine, start with one simple habit:

    Say a one-sentence prayer at bedtime. Read a single Bible verse together before school. Play a worship song in the car.

    These small practices can grow into a lifelong love for God.

    Step 2: Make It Natural

    Faith doesn’t have to be forced or awkward. Look for natural ways to bring God into everyday life:

    While making pancakes, talk about how God provides for your family. While folding laundry, pray aloud for each person as you fold their clothes. While watching a movie, connect a character’s actions to a Bible truth.

    Kids learn best when faith feels like a normal, natural part of their day.

    Step 3: Use What They Love

    God gave your kids unique personalities and passions — use those as a bridge to teach them about Him!

    If your child loves to draw, encourage them to illustrate Bible stories. If they love music, sing worship songs together. If they love adventure, explore God’s creation with nature walks and wonder-filled conversations.

    By connecting faith to what excites them, you’ll create deeper, more meaningful moments.

    Step 4: Celebrate Small Wins

    Sometimes progress is slow, but every little step matters. Celebrate when you see glimpses of spiritual growth:

    A child choosing to pray for a friend. A sibling showing kindness without being asked. A simple “thank you, God” uttered before a meal.

    Acknowledging these small wins encourages your children and reminds them that God is at work in their lives.

    🌻 Embracing Imperfection

    Here’s the truth: your family’s faith journey will be messy. There will be days when you forget, when kids resist, or when you feel like you’re failing. But take heart — God’s grace covers every imperfect moment.

    Even frozen pizza nights and chaotic mornings can become holy ground when you invite God into them. It’s not about being perfect parents; it’s about being faithful, present parents who point their children to Jesus.

    🙏 Final Encouragement

    As you plant these small seeds, trust that God is the Master Gardener. You may not see immediate results, but over time, those seeds will grow into strong, resilient faith.

    So tonight, as you tuck your kids into bed or gather around the table, take a moment to thank God for His presence in your home. Even in the ordinary, He is doing extraordinary things.

    💬 Share Your Milk and Honey Moments

    What small faith practices have worked in your family? Share them in the comments below — your story could encourage another parent on their journey!

  • ✍️ “When Will I Become a Man?” — Asked After a Ball Game

    ✍️ “When Will I Become a Man?” — Asked After a Ball Game

    📖 Verse:

    “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” — 1 Corinthians 13:11

    We were sitting on the couch after a baseball game.

    The news had come on quietly in the background—more noise than substance.

    He was barefoot, shirtless, six years old.

    Curled up beside me with that thoughtful look only kids wear when they’re about to drop something big.

    And then, without warning, he asked:

    “Mom… when will I become a man?”

    I blinked.

    It wasn’t a question about bedtime or snacks or cartoons.

    It was a soul-sized question.

    Dropped into the middle of a quiet evening like it belonged there.

    I thought for a moment about what being a man even means.

    Not just by the world’s definition—but by God’s.

    Then I said:

    “That’s kind of a dad question… but technically, when you turn 18.”

    He nodded, but the moment still lingered.

    So I asked his dad what he thought.

    And his dad said something simple and true:

    “It varies person to person.”

    Because manhood doesn’t happen all at once.

    It’s not about a birthday. It’s about becoming.

    💭 Later, I told him more.

    “You become a man not when you’re big,

    but when your heart starts to grow in the right direction.”

    When you tell the truth even when it’s hard.

    When you protect others.

    When you choose love over pride.

    When you follow Jesus, even if you’re the only one.

    🙏 My prayer?

    Lord, grow him into a man shaped by mercy and led by grace.

    Make him strong—but gentle.

    Bold—but kind.

    Rooted in truth, covered in compassion, and ready to serve.

    Because someday, he will become a man.

    But that night?

    He was just a barefoot, shirtless boy asking holy questions after a ball game.

    And I got to be the one who answered.

    📝 Read more faith-filled, real-life motherhood moments at:

    🌐 www.whatmakesmykidcrytoday.com

    #BoyMom #FaithInMotherhood #BiblicalManhood #WhatMadeMyKidCryToday #ChristianParenting #HolyMoments #DadWisdom #MomLifeUnfiltered