Some stories make you think. Some stories make you cry. Others can make you mad. Then there are those stories that stir your soul and give you goose bumps. I came across the latter story yesterday and wanted to share it with you all. It gave me chills and left me in awe. It still does.

Prayer Closet Left Standing After Tornado Demolishes Rest of Home: "My God Is Awesome!"

After an E4-tornado, a Chaplain working with a rapid response team was shocked to see the remains of one family’s home. Earlier this month, residents of Lee County, AL had their lives turned upside down when they were hit by tornadoes with winds around 170 mph. At least 23 people were killed, some of them children. As a result, March 3 was dubbed the deadliest day of tornadoes in the U.S. in almost six years.

That's likely why images of a prayer closet that stood through it all, shared by a chaplain, have gone viral, as the community needed a vision of hope. Chaplain Jason Smith was in the area with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team after the storm, when he saw a house torn apart. But there was one room of the structure that remained standing.

"I just left a family who survived the tornado in this house and the only thing left standing is this closet. It's the grandmother's prayer closet, and the whole family survived," Smith shared on Facebook. "My God is awesome!" He shared photos of the foundation with two partial walls standing, the remnants of a woman's prayer closet.

Some Christians take the word of the Bible quite literally and will set aside a room, or a closet, that is dedicated to prayer, as per Matthew 6:5-6. The verse reads, "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing  in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

To see the pictures, here is the link:
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/prayer-closet-left-standing-tornado-demolishes-rest-home-god-awesome-210435616.html

For this woman and her family, I bet they are ever so grateful for the power of prayer. For more about prayer closets, watch the movie "War Room" sometime. https://www.facebook.com/warroomthemovie

#prayercloset #prayertrumpstornado #tornadoes #amazing #praising #prayers #angels #angelwatchingoverme #whereisyourangel #kids #books
​#warroom

Did you know that when schools incorporate angels into classrooms they can have fewer "incident" rates? Our angel series of books teach and encourage the art of forgiveness, the importance of getting along with friends and family, and a healthy identity, among other things.

We had the privilege of going into a local elementary school and bringing the message of angels to 90+ kids (not all at once!) We also talked to their older kids about the writing process from beginning concept to finished product. It was a lively presentation and the kids were well mannered.

Here are some pictures from our time together.

If you are in the central FL area and would like for us to come to your school, then fill out the Contact Us form on our website. We'd love to introduce the angels to you!

#angels #kids #school #books #storytime #coloringpage #learning #whereisyourangel #elementary

Don't you love getting ideas to make special occasions more special? One of my girlfriends shared with me a tradition she started a few years ago with her kids at Christmastime. Even though she does it at Christmastime, you can incorporate this idea into any occasion that involves gifts.

The morning of Christmas before her kids come out of their room she tapes wrapping paper on their bedroom door. Her kids know not to come out unless their door is sealed with wrapping paper. When she gives the signal they run out of their room like football players at the start of a big playoff game. It builds the anticipation and excitement of the holiday. She has fun doing it and they have fun making a grand entrance.

If you don't want to wait until Christmas, you can do this at Easter (before the kids get their Easter baskets) or on their birthdays or anytime they unwrap a gift. It sounds like soo much fun I plan to incorporate it this year too!

#wrappingpaper #fun #runningstart #anticipation #excitement #playoffs #gifts #angels #angelbooks #kids #memories #angelwatchingoverme #whereisyourangel

Our body is amazingly designed to heal itself and alert us to areas of concern. Today, our go-to pediatrician Dr. Deepa Sukumar, has some great information on fevers and the precious little members in our families. 

*Fever is usually a sign that the body is fighting infection.

*Fever is 100.4 F or more when measured rectally, or using a forehead or an ear thermometer. 100 F when measured orally. 99 F or more when measured in the axilla.

*Measuring your child's temperature rectally (for babies) or orally (for older children) is the most accurate way to diagnose a fever. Ear and temporal artery (forehead) thermometers are also good.

*The height of a child's fever is not always the best indicator of whether the child needs to be treated and/or evaluated. Instead, it is important to note how a child behaves and appears. If  your child is active, alert, eating and drinking well, smiling and has normal skin color and is playful when the fever comes down, usually the illness is not serious (however always talk to a doctor when in doubt.)

*Fever can be treated with acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol) or ibuprofen (brand name Advil or Motrin.) Acetaminophen can be given every 4 to 6 hours (not more than 5 times a day), and ibuprofen can be given every 6 to 8 hours. Ibuprofen should not be given to children less than 6 months of age. Always consult your doctor regarding the dose of medication because the dose is based on the weight of the child.

*Never give aspirin to a child with fever since it may cause a serious illness called Reye's syndrome.

*Also when your child has fever, dress your child in lightweight clothing because overdressing can cause the fever to increase.

*Give your child a lukewarm bath. A cold water bath will cause the child to shiver and increase his/her temperature. Never leave your child unattended in the bathtub and do not use alcohol rubs.

*If your child is less than 3 months old and has a fever, call a doctor immediately.

*If your child refuses looks ill or has signs of dehydration (passing lesser urine than normal), or has any chronic medical condition, or rash, or pain while peeing or appears irritable, or has trouble breathing or has headache or neck pain or has a history of febrile seizures OR if you have any concerns contact a pediatrician immediately.

To reach out to Dr, Sukumar, who is a board certified pediatrician, via secure video call or text 844.230.3300 or go to gracemdconnect.com. 

The information contained herein is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition. Always consult a physician.

#fever #well #pediatrician #telemedicine #kids #health #bewell #angels #booksforkids #whereisyourangel #angelwatchingoverme 

If you have ever had a clogged drain, then you know how much of an imposition it can be. One of our readers shared with us a homemade clog buster recipe that we think is great. The next time you find your sink or shower stopped up, reach for this recipe.

For Drains:

1/2 c. baking soda into drain
2 c. hot vinegar poured into drain
Cover (with a washcloth or upside down small plate)
Let sit for 30 minutes.
Flush with boiling water.

We suggest setting a timer for the 30 minutes as it is easy to get distracted and forget about it. (just sayin')

Happy drains = happy water flow = happy clean

#drains #helpful #tip #clogged #unclog #happy #angels #goodmemories #kidsbooks #whereisyourangel #angelwatchingoverme

Here are a few places angels are showing up in your homes in anticipation of the arrival of Easter. Keep the pictures coming. We love them!

Have you ever watched kids open presents only to be more interested in the wrapping paper or the box the present came in than the actual present? Are you looking for a meaningful gift to give this Easter that will last longer than the holiday? How about an angel book set?

You can choose from two different books. One is an endearing tale about a  boy and his watchman angel. It is all about angels and how angels show up in wonderful ways.

The second book is more playful. Kids always laugh out loud when I read this book at their schools or community events. The angel has quite a few fun antics up his robed sleeves.

We like to give you options around here, so you also have the option to buy the 2-book set with 1 angel if you are undecided. We have many happy families who have purchased this option.

Each book comes with a plush angel doll. And more importantly the kids hear positive messages about healthy identity, how special they are, and that they are loved. As an added value each books comes with over a dozen angel printables and activities.

If you access our Pinterest page you will find over 1,000 angel recipes, over 100 angel crafts, parenting tips, and more!

It's the gift that keeps on giving. Got your angel?

Order one today.

#angelbooks #easter #lent #gift #angel #kidsbooks #preschool #elementary #whereisyourangel #angelwatchingoverme #special #gotyourangel

Not too long ago I was at a convention that had the Florida Peanut Federation there. Their booth had home made peanut butter cookies for the taking so, of course, I was paying them a visit.

The woman at the booth was very informative about peanuts. She mentioned how healthy they were - packed with protein, fiber, potassium, calcium, iron, vitamin B6, and magnesium. Aside from having delicious peanut butter cookies, she also had recipes.

The following recipe is a peanut dip for veggies. Never really thought about pairing veggies with peanut butter (except for celery) but this dip has an Asian twist. It can also be used as a dressing. Not sure about you but I like it when something is versatile!

Thai Peanut Dip/Dressing

1/4 c. crunchy peanut butter
2 T. rice wine vinegar
2 T. lime juice (juice of 1 lime)
1 T. peanut oil
1 T. soy sauce 
3 T. local honey
1 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. ground ginger
1 t. salt
2 t. dried cilantro leaves

Combine all ingredients and mix well.
Wash and cut up your favorite vegetables to dip in the sauce.
Also good with crackers and chips for a fun treat.

Enjoy the crunchy and nutritious appetizer!

#peanuts #nutritious #recipe #perfect #healthy #angels #booksforkids #whereisyourangel #angelwatchingoverme #goodforyou

On this Wingsday we want to share with you some angel advice that we came across. The author is unknown but the thoughts are relevant. May you find it enlightening too.

An Angel wrote:
Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.
Anger is only one letter short of danger.
If someone betrays you once, it's his fault. If he betrays you twice, it's your fault.
Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people. (This quote I had in my wallet for the longest time.)
God gives every bird its food but He doesn't throw it into its nest.
He who loses money, loses much. He who loses a friend, loses more. He who loses faith, loses all.
Beautiful young people are acts of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art. (One of my fave quotes - If it's not on a card it should be!)
Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself. (Soo true!!)
The tongue weighs practically nothing, but so few people can hold it. ("Ahh grasshopper...you learn well.")

Those angels sure are smart! Hope you are able to use some or all of his quotes.

#angel #wisdom #quotes #wingsday #angelbooks #booksforkids #familytime #specialmoments #whereisyourangel #angelwatchingoverme #angelonmyshoulder #preschool #elementaryschool

Crayons and kids go together like peanut butter and jelly. So do their messes! One thing that I have found to be helpful (no matter how young or old the child) to keep crayons neat is an inexpensive household object you probably have around your home. It may even be on your night stand or in your bathroom.

It's an empty box of facial tissues - like Kleenex, Puffs, or Scotties. You can use either size whether it's the rectangle or the square size box. Both work well. My kids have even brought the box in the van to use on longer trips. Their hands fit perfectly in the hole as do the crayons. The crayons have a nice neat home and they stay neat for the most part. For the younger kids the square box is just the right size for them to carry wherever they color and to put back in place.

We like reducing, reusing, and recycling around here and this "hack" is on our go-to list!

#cleanup #crayons #reuse #repurpose #kids #messes #hack #angelbooks #whereisyourangel #angelwatchingoverme #gotolist #parenting #elementarykids #preschoolers