My ten-year-old son loves origami — don’t most kids? He’s made hundreds of paper airplanes, perfecting his technique to figure out which ones fly best.

His next favorite thing to fold from paper is a cicada. I find these all over his room, made from every kind of paper imaginable. He really loves making these things. They look good if the paper is different colors on both sides, like origami paper. But newspapers work fine too.

I found a video showing how to make them, and found her hands easy to follow along. Origami is something fun to do together with your kids when it’s cold outside. It’s cheap too — that’s important! And when you’re done, you can throw everything away without adding to piles of clutter in your house (if you have that problem too.)

This colorful site also has nice diagrams of how to make a paper ship, rabbit, frog, and other animals.

We went and saw the most incredible movie last night, FACING THE GIANTS. If there is ANY possible way for you to take your family to see this movie, I can’t recommend it enough. We were absolutely stunned it was playing in the big movie theater because it has a strong Christian message, and the Gospel is presented clearly throughout the movie. We can’t wait to own it on DVD so we can show it to all of our kids’ friends who haven’t seen it yet.

We hardly ever take our kids to see movies at the theater — it’s just so expensive. The last thing we saw together was Curious George, back in February! But when I was working out at Curves a few days ago, one of the staff ladies kept going on and on about it. She said, “You HAVE to take your kids to see this movie. It’s only playing one more weekend here. It’s one of the best movies I’ve ever seen.” So that’s why we went.

It’s a huge ordeal for us to go to a movie. We arranged childcare for our two younger kids, (thankfully the grandparents don’t charge us!), then we spent nearly $70 on five movie tickets, popcorn, and drinks. (See why we can’t get out to the movies much?) But now I feel good about spending the money because I read that all the profits from this movie will go to build a 40-acre youth recreational facility in Albany, Georgia — my home state.

The movie is about a Christian high school football team that keeps losing. Everything seems to be going wrong in the life of the coach. His team has had six terrible seasons, and it looks like he’s going to lose his job. His car keeps breaking down, and he and his wife have been trying to have a baby for four years. Both of them go to visit the doctor, and hear the sad news that they won’t be able to have a family. The scene when they talk about this just makes me weep.

So what does the coach do? He prays. His wife prays. He walks out into a wooded area beside his house with his Bible, and he praises God, reciting verses from the Psalms out loud. He says, “I need you, Lord. I won’t lose faith in you. I know you can do something with my life.” I have never seen or heard something like this in a movie. And our theater was packed — full of several rows of teenagers.

I won’t spoil the plot, but the whole experience will build your faith in a strong, mighty God. This would be a wonderful movie to show to a youth group — and it may even inspire a future generation of film-makers.

I read a little bit about the Kendrick brothers who made this movie. They’re both on staff with a church in Albany, Georgia, and they’ve always had a hobby of making home movies. But this one was a BIG idea, and they got financial backing from their church to make it. The budget was only $100,000 (donated by church members), and the actors were all volunteers.

Many of the extras were church members — and we stayed to watch the credits and read that food was provided by various Sunday school classes. You can read the background story here (although the site is tiny white font on black background and hard on the eyes to read).

Here’s why it has a PG rating; according to the Motion Picture Association of America, the movie needs parental guidance because it’s too “evangelistic.”

From Scripps Howard News Service:

“But the scene that caught the MPAA’s attention may have been the chat between football coach Grant Taylor, played by Alex Kendrick, and a rich brat named Matt Prader. The coach says that he needs to stop bad-mouthing his bossy father and get right with God.

The boy replies: ‘You really believe in all that honoring God and following Jesus stuff? … Well, I ain’t trying to be disrespectful, but not everybody believes in that.’

The coach replies: ‘Matt, nobody’s forcing anything on you. Following Jesus Christ is the decision that you’re going to have to make for yourself. You may not want to accept it, because it’ll change your life. You’ll never be the same.’

That kind of talk may be too blunt for some moviegoers, said Kendrick, but that’s the way real people actually talk in Christian high schools in Georgia. Sherwood Baptist isn’t going to apologize for making the kinds of movies that it wants to make.

‘Look, I have those kinds of conversations about faith all the time and I’ve seen young people make decisions that change their lives,’ he said. ‘The reason we’re making movies in the first place is that we hope they inspire people to think twice about their relationship with God.

‘So we’re going to tell the stories that we believe God wants us to tell. We have nothing to hide.'”

The new issue of Christian Women Online is hot off the press. I think the covers just keep getting more and more amazing. Can you tell editor/publisher Darlene is an artist? I’m so blessed to be part of this wonderful publication.

I hope you’ll plan to bookmark this issue and amble your way through it when you have time. There are so many great articles, far too many to read all at once. In the cover story, Darlene interviews Australian worship singer, Darlene Zschech.

My Book Buzz column this month features Barbara Cameron, the Hollywood mom who managed the acting careers of her two famous children, Kirk Cameron (“Growing Pains”) and Candace Cameron Bure (“Full House.”)

I tried to tame my exclamation points and not gush during our interview — but here I can just let loose. Wow!!!! The Camerons are an incredible family! I feel like I really got to know Barbara through reading her book, A Full House of Growing Pains. I wish every mother of grown children could write a memoir like this. She doesn’t hold anything back. She tells you all the heartache and insight she gained from raising a family in Hollywood — and how she discovered the life-changing Message of the Gospel that totally, completely transformed her life.

You can read about how a friend first encouraged Barbara to take her cute All-American kids to visit an agent and how this led to TV commercials, mini-series, movies, and the sit-coms that brought her children into everyone’s living room. It was a complete new world to me, and I loved having a front-row seat, smelling the homemade chocolate chip cookies that Barbara always brought to the set to share with everyone.

It’s hard for any mother to raise a family with good moral values, but Barbara did this while her family was being escorted to ritzy parties in limosines and flying around in private jets — and even being stalked by fans. Her two non-acting children never got jealous of their siblings, and the family stayed close all through the years of being in the constant eye of the media.

Now Candace is a beautiful mother of three and has become the newest columnist for Christian Women Online. This month in her Candid Candace column, she talks about how to keep your faith and also how to lose postpartum pounds — two topics I’m always interested in!

I found out that Kirk Cameron and his wife Chelsea have been married for 15 years and have six children. You can read his inspiring testimony in this Christianity Today article, The Rebirth of Kirk Cameron, and see how he went from being an atheist to totally committing his life to Christ. Kirk stays busy with his award-winning reality TV and radio show, The Way of the Master, and acting in the “Left Behind” movies.

Kirk and Chelsea also run a week-long retreat for seriously ill children, called Camp Firefly. They invite the entire family for an all-expense paid week at Callaway Gardens, which is in my home state. I had no idea about this camp, but what a blessing it is to these families. The camp has been in operation since 1989.

Barbara Cameron’s A Full House of Growing Pains is this month’s CWO Book Draw. You can click here to enter in the drawing. Darlene graciosly allowed the interview to continue to a Part 2, where Barbara Cameron answered my questions about her involvement with helping feed hungry children in Africa.

In a world where there are very few celebrity role models, it’s a rare blessing to discover a family who has used their worldly fame and success as a platform — all for the glory of God.

Today, for the first time ever here on Mom 2 Mom Connection, we have a mother/daughter duo visiting with us. I’m thrilled to host author T. Suzanne Eller AND her mom discussing Suzie’s new book, The Mom I Want to Be.

Suzie is a mother of three grown children and lives with her husband of 26 years in Oklahoma. She’s the founder of daretobelieve ministries, author of several Christian books, and is a nationally recognized speaker to teens, parents, and women.

She’s been featured on radio shows such as At Home Live, Aspiring Women, Focus on the Family, Prime Time, and Mid-Day Connection, sharing her zest for life and relevant faith. Suzie has also published hundreds of articles in magazines such as Today’s Christian Woman, Guideposts, and Woman’s World, and she’s a family columnist for cbn.com.

Welcome, Suzie! You’ve got a new book out for women, The Mom I Want to Be. Can you tell us about it?
It’s a practical and spiritual resource for women who were raised in dysfuction or experienced a painful past, and who want to give their children greater memories than they received.

Why did you decide to write it?
I was approached by a publishing team after teaching a workshop titled “Pushing Past Your Past” at the Hearts at Home national conference for moms. I was a little unsure that this was a good topic to share at this conference, but after the workshop, women lined up and down the aisle and out the door to share their stories, and how they connected with what was taught.

I hesitated when approached because I didn’t want to reach thousands of women, and yet hurt my own mom. She’s not the same person she once was, but at the same time, does any mom want her mistakes held up to the world for review?

I was prepared to put it down, and yet my mom not only said, “yes”, but came on board with me. I asked her to write the intro to each chapter, and to share her story. I didn’t realize at the time how much more powerful that made the story, and the points in the book. As I read the completed chapters I was in awe.

How did your mom feel about your writing this book?
[Suzie’s mom, Karen Morrison, answered this question.]

At first I was very apprehensive. Then I prayed about it and thought if this will bring healing to my children and others, God will give me the courage to face whatever comes my way. Since handing out several of the books to ladies suffering from childhood hurts, I am so very thankful that I did go through with my story in the book.

I can personally tell you that your writing had a big impact on me, and I’m so glad you wrote this book together. It was so meaningful to see what both of you were experiencing at the same time, as mother and daughter, and I think this is what makes your book one of the most unique books I’ve ever read. Did any healing come about as a result of writing this book?

Yes, several things happened during the writing process. One, I realized where my love for writing came from. Mom had her first child really young and wasn’t able to finish school. She’s very smart, but this is something that bothers her. As I read the pages she sent to me, I was impressed with the depth of her writing ability. She was worried about spelling and commas, but what I saw was a woman who could communicate beautifully.

The second thing is that there were stories I had never heard. I didn’t know that my mom was molested at five years old. It certainly broadened my perspective. I saw mom as healed, but I never had seen her fully as the little girl going through her own pain as a child. That brought a much deeper sense of compassion for her, but also admiration for what has taken place in her life in the past 10 years.

What can women do if they don’t get along with their moms now because of things that happened in the past?

It depends, Heather. If a parent is still destructive (say, an abusive alcoholic), she must set boundaries that will help that relationship heal, or at least not be destructive. These aren’t rules to punish a parent, but guidelines to share your needs with a mom or dad who creates havoc in your life, your marriage, or your children’s lives.

But what if a mom has healed? Is she in “time out” forever? Is guilt a tool to make her pay for her past sins? Or are you able to begin new memories? In my family, this was a process and some are still working on it, but I felt so free the day I realized that I could love my mom for what she had become. She also became free. She knew that our relationship was a safe one, and she could be what God called her to be, rather than holding back to pay penance for my childhood.

You wrote a chapter called “The Power of Perspective.” How does that apply specifically to moms today?

When you’ve grown up with abuse, neglect, or addiction, the pain of your childhood can loom large in your life, and everything filters through that perspective.

For example, if a child embarrasses you verbally or throws a fit in Wal-Mart, the person who filters that through the past will say, “Why would you do that to me?” It becomes personal, rather than an opportunity to teach your child how to speak with respect or to handle his anger better.

This “filter” expands to other relationships. You see things through your self-image and the words spoken over you in the past. You struggle with confidence. You might struggle to forgive small infractions by friends or family.

Shifting your perspective means that you change your focus to who you are now, what you have now, and what you are becoming. That allows the past to take its rightful size in your life. It’s there, but it’s not looming over everything.

I share with women that your past is a very small part of who you are. It shaped you, yes; but it doesn’t define you or keep you from becoming all that God intended.

How would we use this book as a resource for teaching a group of women about motherhood?

I’ve created an intimate Bible study where small groups of women can work through this together. I share instructions on how to minister to people with painful pasts, and how to gain trust as friends and beautiful women working toward growth and change and healthy parenting patterns and perspectives.

Thank you so much, Suzie and Mrs. Morrison, for taking the time to share your thoughts here! I really enjoyed The Mom I Want to Be and will treasure it as I strive to become a more joyous mom.

T. Suzanne Eller may be reached at her websites, Dare to Believe and The Mom I Want to Be. She also blogs for teens along with several other Christian authors at Girls, God, and the Good Life.

Here’s another radio broadcast you’ve got to listen to if you can find a few minutes during your day. James Dobson is speaking today and tomorrow on Standing for the Family in a Lost Culture. Download this and listen to it while you’re folding clothes or washing dishes. It will inspire you.

He told some funny stories about his son, Ryan, and reminded me I can’t give up on my kids — even when I’m having a hard day! Those stories probably weren’t too funny when they happened — but now that Ryan’s grown, Dr. Dobson and his wife can laugh about the trips to the emergency room and all the difficulties of raising a very ACTIVE boy.

If you’ve never read James Dobson’s Bringing Up Boys and you’re a mom of boys, this is a book you’ll want to add to your collection — even if you only have time to read a paragraph every now and then. It will keep you sane, knowing what the long-term perspective is on raising a boy to become a godly young man.

Last night at church, I was waiting in the hallway outside the room where my girls were making their Operation Christmas Child boxes. My three-year-old son has entered this babbling brook phase where every single thought of his turns into a “why” question or something he must tell me. I know it won’t last forever, so I’m much more patient now than I was with my oldest.

Another mom looked exasperated with her three-year-old son who was wiggling and chattering while we waited for our sweet little girls to finish their project. Finally, she said, “Why don’t the two of you race each other down the hall?” So they did. Our two boys spent the next ten minutes alternating between running up and down the hall and hopping up and down the hall like frogs saying “Ribbit.” She turned to me and said, “I don’t know about you, but mine just wears me out. Maybe they’ll run off all this energy and go to bed easier.” HA! I agreed.

I just have to tell you that a few days ago, I got an email from a writer at Focus on the Family asking if I had any suggestions for how a mom of a 0-3 year old child can begin inspiring her child’s personal faith. Wow. That was pretty cool to be asked! She needed something right away, so I told her the first things that came to mind, then she wrote back and asked if it was OK to quote me as “Heather Ivester, mother of five and founder of Mom 2 Mom Connection, a popular blog for mothers of all ages.” Um, yeah. That’d be all right.

See, you just never know who is reading your blog! 🙂

But after I sent that, I’ve been more aware of how I try to instill faith in my young children. It really goes way beyond teaching them to say the blessing and pray before bedtime. Since I stay home with my kids, I talk to them about God all day. Really — every chance I get. You never know what’s going to stick.

One thing I try to do is catch my kids being good and tell them, “God likes it when you do that. Do you know God is probably smiling right now because you shared your toy with your sister? Do you know when you read a book to your little brother, you are making God very happy? Oh, I’m so glad you told me that you were lying because God already knew you were lying, and that makes Him so proud of you when He hears you telling the truth.”

My kids are far from perfect, but I hope I’m teaching them what’s right and wrong now, so when they’re grown they can catch themselves being good.

At least that’s the plan.

Our church is starting to collect boxes for Operation Christmas Child, sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse, an organization started by Billy Graham’s son, Franklin. On Wednesday, the RAs and GAs will be stuffing their boxes, so we’re planning on going out this week to shop for toys, arts supplies, toiletries, and other small gift items.

As I was browsing the pamphlet about it yesterday during church (before the sermon, of course), I wondered if this ministry was really all that important. I mean, do those poor children really need a bunch of American trinkets and hard candy?

Then I read that these boxes will be helpful to organizations that are already working in local ministries in those countries. As local missionaries help meet people’s spiritual needs, our little plastic shoeboxes will help draw excitement from children. That will bring more people to hear the Gospel, which can bring hope and joy to the entire family.

I’m convinced this is a worthy cause — and something easy for children to get involved in. My kids like picking out the toys and art supplies. It helps them to think beyond their own small world.

I’m oh-so-thankful for all the volunteers who donate their time and energy toward this program. You can learn more about how you can get involved at the Samaritan’s Purse website. But hurry — National Collection Week is November 13-20. That’s coming up quick. You can find out if there are any local drop-off points near you on the website.

With October’s leaves in transformation, I feel like autumn is officially here. And today, I also feel like I’ve entered a new season of parenting.

This morning, I kissed my 18-month-old goodbye, left in the care of two sweet nursery workers at our church’s Mom’s Morning Out program. It wasn’t her first time staying in that room, so she didn’t cry. But it was MY first time actually leaving the building. She waved to me and promptly began playing with toys.

My first time! All five kids in “school!” Granted, I only had two and a half hours to myself. But it was a new sensation for me to feel as if my days of full-time stay-home parenting are slowly coming to an end.

So what’s a mom to do with kids in school and time on her hands? Well, I wore my jogging suit, the one from Target that’s halfway hip, so I went to Curves and worked out for half an hour, then to Mega-Mart to catch up on shopping.

It was like a reunion for me — yes, life in a small town is good if you’re in the mood. I’m usually not. But today I saw everyone in the world, and I had plenty of time to chat. No kids wiggling out of the cart or interrupting me. I was a social butterfly — feeling so happy and light, I actually made it over to the electronics department to pick out a new answering machine. Something I’d put off for about a year.

Today’s joys contrast sharply with yesterday’s complete and utter despair. I was home yesterday with my two youngest, trying to unpack and get caught up from our trip. All was quiet upstairs, and I was thrilled that my kids seemed to be happily playing together.

Rule #1 of mothering. If it’s too quiet, then something is wrong. I almost had a heart attack when I went to check on things. My three-year-old had decorated his wall AGAIN with purple magic marker. He’d gotten into the first-aid kit and opened all the band-aids. And the worst. He found my husband’s collection of cassette tapes from the 80s (recently recovered from the attic), and he unraveled them all. The tangled brown ribbons covered every square inch of his room.

One of those tapes was a gift my husband mailed me when I was teaching English in Japan. It was a recording of children’s songs, and I listened to that tape over and over and over. I used it in all my classes. I loved it. I can safely say that tape made such an impact on me that I fell in love with this guy who was thoughtful enough to make it for me.

When I saw the destruction, I sat in the floor and cried. “I’m sorry, Mama,” a little voice said. “I won’t do it again.” And he won’t. Because there are no tapes left to destroy. No more band-aids to open. And my mom and I are repainting the room next week.

I have absolutely no regrets that my children are all in school. None. They need the break from me. And I need the break from them. I love my kids. I love being a mom. But I’m ready for the next step.

What else is new? Another first. We took a road trip this week and rented a beautiful cabin in the mountains. Just our little family of seven. It was the first time my husband and I have ever done this! We cooked in our cozy kitchen and ate outside on the picnic table. We had so much fun, and it reminded me of how we felt as newlyweds in our first apartment. Our tiny kitchen had everything we needed.

I’ve spent the entire last decade changing diapers, and we still have one more child to potty-train. These have been happy years, but I’m looking forward to more road trips, more mountain cabins, more precious blocks of time to think. And dream.

Michelle Malkin had an excellent column last week that was printed in our local newspaper, Where Have All the Good Girls Gone? In it, she describes what has happened to Welsh singer, Charlotte Church, formerly a “good girl” with the voice of an angel. Malkin writes:

The corruption of Charlotte Church is a sorry little sign of how innocence and grace have lost their mass appeal — even as parents claim to want age-appropriate role models for their children.

Malkin shared results of a survey that was released this week of 1,010 mothers with daughters age 4 to 9 years old: 90 percent of the moms “believe there are not enough wholesome role models, celebrities, characters, and brands for young girls to emulate.”

You’ve probably seen this little logo, Moms for Modesty on tons of blogsites, but in case you’ve missed it, click on the image, and you’ll be taken to Everyday Mommy. As of today, 665 women bloggers, many of us mothers of daughters, have signed a “Moms for Modesty Mission Statement,” which can be found on this post.

This has gotten a lot of attention, and Mary Tsao of BlogHer wrote about it, further increasing visibility. All of this came about after Jules (Everyday Mommy) was shocked to visit a local restaurant with a dinosaur theme and see three t-shirts for sale in young girls’ sizes with the phrases, “Bite Me,” “Cold Blooded” and “Man Eater” emblazened across the front. Despite the obvious attempt at double entendre humor, Jules asked her readers,“I would like to know what you mothers of daughters think of these products? Would you allow your 6, 7 or 8 year old to wear a shirt like this? If not, why not? If yes, why yes?”

After an overwhelming “NO!” response, she wrote up the “Moms for Modesty Mission Statement” and created the button you see here, which has been placed on hundreds of blogs.

Malkin ends her Good Girls column with this plea: “Perhaps it’s time for moms lamenting the skankification of their little girls’ world to put their money where their mouths are.”

With Christmas shopping around the corner, will you make the choice to buy products that present a wholesome image to your daughters? Thankfully, we can teach our children the words of one “celebrity” role model who will never go out of style:

When I was in middle school, I was absolutely, positively BONKERS about horses. I dreamed about horses. I drew pictures of horses on all my school papers. I read horse books, watched horse movies, collected model horses. And I begged my parents to let me take horseback riding lessons.

There was a stable within walking distance of my house. My sister and I hung out at the barn, petting the horses, feeding them strips of grass, feeling their warm whiskery muzzle in our hands. My mom told us stories about her horse growing up and decided it would be OK to let us take lessons.

After several months of learning to ride, we found another stable about a ten-minute drive from our house, and my parents bought us a horse, Bandit. Every day after school, throughout our up-and-down roller coaster t’weens, Mom drove me and my sister to the barn. We mucked out stalls together, groomed and rode our horse, fed him — and for a year, I joined the show circut. I showed English equitation, and of course dreamed of going to the Olympics … until I started high school and moved on to other interests (humans, with XY chromosomes).

I think I’m still a bit horse crazy, and that’s why I was thrilled to discover TWO series of books for girls who love horses, written by Christian authors. Woohoo! You can help build your daughter’s faith while she’s following her heart reading stories about horses.

The Keystone Stables series by Marsha Hubler is published by Zonderkidz, and I read The Trouble with Skye. It was fantastic. Skye Nicholson is a troubled 13-year-old foster kid, who is full of teenage angst and is an expert at getting into trouble. She’s rescued by the tough love of Tom and Eileen Chambers, who offer her a new chance in their home.

There, she meets Champ, the most beautiful horse she’s ever seen. Though first deathly afraid to ride him, she discovers she’s a natural. The Nicholsons also gently introduce her to God, who loves her and gives her life meaning and hope as she explores her past. Marsha Hubler sent me a signed copy of her book with this inscription: “No trouble is greater than God! 1 Corinthians 15:10.” So, of course, I’ve blabbed about it to my local children’s librarian — and can’t wait until my girls are a little older. This series is recommended for ages 10 & up. (Skye has smoked pot in her past, which may introduce some heavy material for younger elementary-age girls.)

While I was telling my librarian about the Keystone Stables series, she pointed out another series she likes, Winnie the Horse Gentler books by Dandi Daley Mackall. These are published by Tyndale Kids, so I jumped right in and read Wild Thing, book 1 of the series.

Twelve-year-old Winnie is searching for peace in her life, after the death of her mother in a car accident. Her dad keeps moving her and her younger sister around, unsettled and grieving. Winnie has a part-time afternoon job at nearby Stable-Mart, where she falls head over heels in love with a spirited Arabian, called Wild Thing.

Her dream is to buy him and keep him in the old barn behind their rental home — if only she can convince her dad not to move again — and if she can earn the money. I love the gentle way the author shares Winnie’s prayers to God. We can see her faith, and we can also see how God works in her life. It’s a beautiful book. There’s also a wonderful glossary of horse terms in the back.

Both books include diagrams that label the parts of a horse. What fun to hear these terms I haven’t thought of in years: crest, withers, dock, cannon, fetlock, etc. Your horse-crazy daughters will fall in love with these books!

Here’s a picture of me and my husband as we were preparing to leave for the Gala the other night. My husband’s university was celebrating its Centenniel, and that’s why we were invited. We decided to go because this week is also our 12th Wedding Anniversary.

We were married in August 1994. Twelve years, five children, and eight moves later, here we are.

Oops … Looks like I better go sweep the driveway.