The pandemic gave parents the chance to work from home. Now they don’t want to give it up.

For decades, working parents — and mothers in particular — have been calling for more flexibility to juggle their personal and professional responsibilities. Finally, a global pandemic forced many employers to give it to them. Office workers were sent home en masse to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, along the way testing out their companies’ capacity to maintain operations with a dispersed workforce — and challenging some long-held notions about how productivity is best achieved.

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‘Her First Sunrise from Heaven’: Pastor Tony Evans’ Wife Lois Passes Away

Lois Evans and PAstor Tony Evans

Lois Evans, age 70 the wife of well-known Dallas pastor Tony Evans, passes away.

She was the rock of her family. The impact and legacy that she leaves will live on through her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  She blessed many people with her life and impact on the kingdom of God.

Tony Evans, the senior pastor and founder of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, confirmed the news about his wife on his Facebook page.

“Just before the sun came up this morning, the love of my life, Lois Irene Evans, transitioned from earth and watched her first sunrise from heaven,” Evans said.

The pastor and the couple’s four children were present when she died from biliary cancer on Monday.

“As she slipped away, we told her how much we love her, how proud we are of her, and how thankful we are for the life she has lived.”

Lois Evans

Lois Evans was Senior Vice President of The Urban Alternative

Lois is married to her favorite pastor/teacher and best friend, Dr. Tony Evans, Senior Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. She has four children: Chrystal, Priscilla, Anthony, Jr., and Jonathan, five granddaughters and eight grandsons, and two great-grandchildren.

Dr. Lois Evans was employed by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, the Grand Old Gospel Fellowship Ministry, Dallas Federal Savings and Loan, as well as numerous executive management positions with The Urban Alternative, which she co-founded with her husband Dr. Tony Evans in 1982.  Dr. Evans was also the founder of the Pastors’ Wives Ministry.

For such a time as this.
– Esther 4:14.

 

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He’s Got My Eyes

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Perception is a powerful thing. It is a way of regarding, understanding or interpreting something; a mental impression. Simply put… the way we see things. 

Never in a million years would I have thought that I’d be graced with an opportunity to raise two amazing young men. I am truly honored to share the role of a parent with both my husband and our oldest son’s biological mother. We are so very proud of the man that he has become! We also have a seven-year-old, our youngest son… well, let’s just say we met in the principal’s office.

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Two years ago, I served as a principal at a Christian school. Every day was filled with laughter, tears, and adventures. Eighty percent of those adventures revolved around one student. Clyde.  Amongst all of our students, I’d never seen a kindergartener with such heart and character as Clyde. Clyde was the smallest little boy on campus, yet he was the school’s greatest advocator. It was nothing for little Clyde to walk up to an eighth-grader and make demands on behalf of his kindergarten classmates. He would never pick a fight, but he always seemed to know just how to end one. When he didn’t have enough muscle power to win a fight, he used love and forgiveness to win the war.  These are the kinds of lessons that I learned from little Clyde on a daily basis. 

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Fast forward to the end of the school year… Clyde and I are officially mother and son! God is good and faithful. I would have never imagined on the first day of school that Clyde and I would be bonding in more ways than one. One of the most meaningful factors about our relationship is that I am very transparent with him. I share with him that he is my teacher. My son has my eyes. God uses him to teach me about myself and how to respond to others in need. God uses his eyes to help me see things from a different perspective. I told Clyde that I gain a better understanding of life and God through his perception of life and who God is. It is amazing to see how much pride he takes in knowing that he is a part of my growth just as much as I am of his or more. I encourage my son daily by reminding him that as he continues to learn about God, life, and people it is his duty to teach others what he has learned. Make a mistake, learn from the mistake, testify and share with others what was learned. This helps him to become a realistic, touchable and empathetic role model. 

One more thing. After about three months of living with us, Clyde woke up one morning and ran downstairs to the kitchen declaring that God showed him what he was supposed to do with his life and the reason he was born. Imagine a five-year-old, running downstairs screaming, “I’ve got it! I’ve got it! I know what God wants me to do!” 1. Tell people about God and 2. Play baseball. What’s so special about this is that, just three months prior, he was unexpectedly removed from his family and wasn’t sure if he would ever get to see his mom again whom he loves so much. Clyde had already declared that he had forgiven the people who had taken him away “(CPI/DCF)” and he still loves everybody. It was after he had openly and willingly forgiven “everybody” that God revealed to him what he was born to do. What did I learn? I learned that you really won’t know who you are and have an understanding of your full potential until you demonstrate love and forgiveness. Moms, please tell your sons how important they are to your personal and spiritual growth. Tell them that they have your eyes.  You want to see what they are seeing so that you can be a better mom.

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I was his Principal. Clyde was my teacher. Now we are mother and son and together we are students in the school of love and forgiveness. 

He’s Got My Eyes – ‘Shea Edwards
November 1, 2019
You can reach Shea Edwards at   Education Rebound     Shea Edwards

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CHANGING SEASONS

Our season is changing. Preston is 18 and Ashton is 12. Growth appears to become faster with Ashton. He admires his older brother so much. I am trying to embrace it, but my heart is aching.

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It aches for those days when they wanted their mama. The days that they’d hop into my bed and giggle about something corny or when they’d just give me a hug, for no reason at all. The most handsome faces and tall bodies have taken the place of chubby cheeks and tiny hands. I often find myself staring at them with a smile. I am Just proud of their growth. Physically and spiritually.

Their little sisters are 4 and 6 so I still get to hear little voices every day, I will forever miss the sound of my sweet boys’ voices. There is something so special between a mom and her sons.

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The seasons of life…. boy, do they creep up on you. God’s plan is so much better than ours but today, I am pondering on those days that are past. Remembering my “little” boys.

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Kim Strother
Proud Mama
Louisiana

 

 

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BENEFITS OF A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP

It’s important to get enough sleep. Sleep helps keep your mind and body healthy. As a new school year, starts sleep will definitely be important for your children and you as the busy schedules begin.  Many people believe they can work well with limited sleep, but it will catch up with you.  Encourage your high school and college students to not do all-night study sessions before a test.  They should study a little each day which will better prepare them to have clarity and focus when taking a test.  SLEEP IS YOUR SUPERPOWER

Benefits of Sleep

How much sleep do I need?
Most adults need 6 to 8 hours of good quality sleep on a regular schedule each night. Make changes to your routine if you can’t find enough time to sleep.

Getting enough sleep isn’t only about total hours of sleep. It’s also important to get good quality sleep on a regular schedule so you feel rested when you wake up.

How much sleep do children need?
Kids need even more sleep than adults. (Recommendation)

  • Teens need 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night.
  • School-aged children need 9 to 12 hours of sleep each night.
  • Preschoolers need to sleep between 10 and 13 hours a day (including naps).
  • Toddlers need to sleep between 11 and 14 hours a day (including naps).
  • Babies need to sleep between 12 and 16 hours a day (including naps).

 

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BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS

BACK TO SCHOOL GRAPHIC

  1. Set your kids’ sleep schedules back to “school time” two weeks before the first day of school.

  2. Get your kids involved in programs they can do after school to keep them active.

  3. Visit cultural attractions like museums to shift their brains into “school mindsets”.

  4. Hire an after-school sitter or Nanny In the City if you are in Nashville, TN to help care for your kids while you’re at work.

  5. Have your kids visit a library or bookstore to pick out a book to read before the school year begins.

  6. Remind your children about the calendar schedule they’ll use to manage their activities.

  7. Try apps like Homeworksuite or my homework to help your kids organize assignments.

  8. Set up weekly meetings to review your kids’ schedules for the week(s) ahead.

  9. Create a family calendar that tracks everyone’s activities and schedules

  10. Revisit your rules about screen time for the school year.

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11. Give kids a specific day when they can choose all the activities you do together.

12. Determine your family prayer time for the week

13. Teach your kids to prioritize their assignments by making to-do lists with deadlines.

14. Make sure to also include fun times after a long week of homework and busy schedules

Yolanda Shields, Author Speaker

YOLANDA 2nd EDIT-12

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Training your Sons to Pray

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All your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their peace. Isaiah 54:13

  1. Let your children see you praying

  2. Pray with your children

  3. Let them know that prayer is just a conversation with God

  4. Talk with them about answered prayers

Order your Letters to Our Sons Book and Journal

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       ORDER NOW

 

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Pray for your Children Daily

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‘Pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests…’ (Ephesians 6: 18). Prayer is powerful and can change the life of your children.

School is about the start and it is a great time to start preparing the prayer points for the year for your children.

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  • Pray that your kids connect with God.
  • Pray that your children honor God.
  • Pray they translate that honor into action.
  • Pray that they are well-equipped to meet every challenge in School.
  • Pray that your children forgive.
  • Pray that they avoid temptation.
  • Pray that they will have the resources to defeat everything negative.
  • Pray that they will develop relationships that serve to strengthen them.
  • Pray that love will define them not hate.
  • Pray for the strength of the teachers and school staff.

Children are on the front lines of a new generation, so it is important to pray daily for them.  

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Raising Sons with Character & Courage

 

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Dear David,

“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all of this.”

~2 Timothy 2: 1-7 (NIV)

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This scripture encourages me to be faithful by the grace that I have in Jesus Christ. I know that I have to be patient, confident and persevere in the process of raising you, David.  Order your copy to read the full letter. 

 

Letters to Our Sons

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Write A Letter To Your Son

As we celebrate another Mother’s Day this would be a great time to write a letter to your son(s). Tag us on FACEBOOK if you have a letter to share

Letters to Our Sons

Letters to our Sons, Yolanda Conley Shields debut book is penned in a heartfelt, entertaining and motivational tone offering scriptural support as well as insightful steps to encourage mothers facing life’s challenges. With diverse, comedic and heartbreaking stories, Letters to our Sons captures the struggles and victories mothers face day-to-day raising their sons and offers helpful and relatable words of wisdom and inspiration. As a mother, you want the finest for your son, but the battle can be tough with peer pressure and societal

influence. Letters to our Sons is sure to leave you encouraged and equipped to not only write your own son a letter but to partner with God to shape and move your son to live out the purposes God has designed for his life. This book is sure to create, grow and shape the unique bonds mothers have with their sons and make it last a lifetime!

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