Pointing Little Arrows - Intentional, Faith-based, Parenting

10 Things about Me You’d be SHOCKED to Learn....

January 25, 2022 23:04 - 15 minutes - 11.5 MB

Have you seen those reels lately where they list off things that people would "hate me if you knew?" Well, that's what we're doing today! I thought it would be fun to talk about some of my quirks and why I make the choices I do as a mom of 4, homeschooling, and working full time! Everything from chores I just don't do, to saying "no," and how I really feel about motherhood and homeschooling our kiddos... What's something about you that people might be surprised to find out?

Our first Unit Study! Switching up our homeschool

January 09, 2022 17:33 - 16 minutes - 3.75 MB

Have you tried unit studies for your homeschool? We are starting our first one and I am SO excited! it covers it ALL- science, history, geography, social studies, art, outdoor exploration...everything! AND- we can do it family-style so everyone is included!

Welcome to 2022...the year we Take Back!

January 04, 2022 20:36 - 20 minutes - 4.65 MB

Welcome back and happy 2022! This is the year we are taking back! The last couple of years have really allowed us to zero in on our priorities and then evaluate if what we are doing on the daily is life-giving to those things! Today I'm sharing some of our goals and aspirations for the months ahead! Cheers!

Serving others as a family this holiday season

December 06, 2021 18:14 - 6 minutes - 5.13 MB

One of the things we are really striving to instill in our kids is a servants heart. Christmas isn't about all of the "things" we get but about the blessings provided by knowing Jesus and being able to share those blessings with other people. Today I'm sharing my 4 favorite ways to serve others as a whole family! These are kid-friendly, budget-friendly, service focused activities that have a BIG impact. Merry Christmas Mommas!

Homeschooling Kids of Different Ages, Abilities, and Grades WHILE working fulltime! Here‘s how I do it!

November 22, 2021 17:39 - 11 minutes - 8.12 MB

Do you homeschool more than 1 kiddo? Chances are they have different abilities, are different ages or span different grades? How do you squeeze it all into the day without sacrificing all the different things you want to cover and keep your sanity at the same time? Today I'm sharing the secret to my success as we home school 4 kids from PreK to 4th grade AND I work full time....

Holiday Traditions -Homeschool Family of 6

November 18, 2021 17:41 - 13 minutes - 9.66 MB

This is my absolute favorite time of year! Today I'm sharing some of our favorite family traditions that help keep the Reason for the Season right in front of our eyes and hearts! What are your family's favorite traditions? Follow me on Instagram @pointinglittlearrows - I'd love to hear from you!

Finding Wholeness for the Purpose of Contribution

October 21, 2021 12:00 - 20 minutes - 14.9 MB

Today I am interviewing Catherine McLaughlin, a strategist for the Women School. We are talking all the things - being a new mom and finding balance instead of survival, how to handle disagreements within our home in a way that teaches our children how to handle conflict AND FIND resolution. How to instill a sense of belonging within our families. And, how to find our dreams again as moms so that we can live in the wholeness God intends and GIVE back to those around us...this one is jam pac...

What is on the Vision Board for your Family?

October 14, 2021 00:10 - 11 minutes - 10.2 MB

Do you have a vision board? What about one for your family? What do you want it to look like, smell like, taste like, sound like and feel like? Before we can start making changes within our homes we have to have an end goal in mind! Today I'm breaking down the vision I have for my family by the 5 senses! What would you include on your own Vision Board?

Making friends when you‘re an introvert!

October 07, 2021 16:20 - 20 minutes - 4.8 MB

I am a total introvert! But- I still believe in the power of strong friendships and the important role they play in our lives. Today I'm breaking down my 5 tips for making friends, even if you're shy! An to my more extroverted listeners...I've got some tidbits for how you can help us out!

It‘s my favorite time of year! what are you doing to slow down and rest in the arms of Jesus this fall?

October 05, 2021 00:48 - 5 minutes - 1.31 MB

I love fall! to me it's this beautiful, gentle reminder that we can rest in the arms of our savior and steal a quiet moment to just take in the calm and peacefulness of the season.

3 tips for moving forward and pushing on to your goals (even when it‘s hard)

September 23, 2021 15:48 - 12 minutes - 2.97 MB

Ever feel stuck? Have a hard time starting something new? it can be so scary/hard/intimidating/ you name it to really stretch out of your comfort zone...this year, in addition to all the craziness going on in the world I changed jobs, started homeschooling our 4 kiddos, started this podcast, AND my husband and I have a big project in the works...it's been a wild ride and sometimes I've needed to refocus on the basics to keep pushing forward... Check these episodes out if you missed them!...

39 of my favorite Scriptures for my 39th Birthday

September 16, 2021 15:20 - 20 minutes - 4.67 MB

hey momma! I'm turning 39 today!!! I thought I'd be fun to share some of the verses that have spoken life into me this year! Everything from kids, family, purpose and goals, comfort and salvation through our Lord's amazing grace...here are 39 passages of scripture that have spoken to my heart.

Homeschool Update! How is my life while working full time and homeschooling going so far?

September 14, 2021 22:43 - 16 minutes - 3.67 MB

2 months in. Whew! it's been a while ride so far! What has surprised me the most? What have we struggled with? What do I love? Today I'm dishing how the last 2 months have gone as I transitioned into a new job and we started homeschooling our 4 kiddos!

Potty Training Tips and Tricks from a Momma of 4

September 06, 2021 22:00 - 14 minutes - 7.68 MB

Is there anything more frustrating that potty training a strong-willed child? Not much! I've potty trained 4 kiddos - boy and girl - from the easy going to the super strong willed and independent....here's what I learned along the way.

3 Ways to Date Your Spouse Even If you Don‘t Have A Babysitter

September 02, 2021 18:12 - 12 minutes - 8.12 MB

We've all heard how important it is to maintain the relationship with our spouse after kids enter the picture. Having a babysitter lined up or Grandparents who can step in and cover for a night is awesome but what about those times when you don't have other people to help take care of your children? These are my 3 favorite ways to build in time with my husband and make sure we are strengthening our bond and on the same page. The best part - you don't need a babysitter to make these happen! ...

Want a more peaceful home? Teach your kids to count on and rely on each other!

August 29, 2021 18:34 - 24 minutes - 17.5 MB

So much in today's episode! I'm giving a homeschool update! How'd our first month go? I'm sharing some things that surprised me as we're getting started. Also today - want a more peaceful home? We've found that when our kids are relying on one another, instead of going head to head, our home is SO much more peaceful! So how do we encourage this with our 4 kiddos?

Can you work full time AND homeschool? A day in the life of.....

August 21, 2021 13:10 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MB

Can you work and homeschool? Absolutely! Is it a little crazy sometimes? You bet! I'm breaking down what an average day looks for my family. I'm a full time working, homeschool momma of 4 kids! Our children range from pre-K to 4th grade and participate in all kinds of activities - can we fit it all in? Of course! And today I'm sharing how... The Bible tells us to guard our hearts - are we monitoring what is coming into our homes through the TV? Is it time to break up with Netflix? W...

The Faith of a Child and Drawing Close to Jesus

August 16, 2021 21:26 - 15 minutes - 11.4 MB

Momma, have I got a sweet one for you today! Makaya is my oldest daughter, and in addition to being the most beautiful, loving, sweet spirited, generous child, she is also teaching me every day what the Bible means when it refers to the Faith of a Child. Today I'm sharing two precious stories from Makayla about our relationship with our Father in Heaven. I pray that they are encouraging to you. How do your kids challenge you to grow in your faith each day? Follow me on Instagram and let ...

Raising Kind Kids ON PURPOSE! It doesn't happen by accident!

August 12, 2021 15:20 - 13 minutes - 10.3 MB

Join me for Part 2 of my Raising Kind Kids podcast! If you haven't checked out the first one here it is - I list my 6 favorite ways to instill a life of service in our children. https://pointinglittlearrows.podbean.com/e/raising-kind-kids-how-to-instill-a-life-of-service-in-your-children/ Today I'm talking about meeting those physical needs, being INTENTIONAL with our time and encouraging our kids to grow their own Fruits of the Spirit! Lets dive in! Want more? Check out some of these pa...

Homeschool Series- Grieving the things we gave up to homeschool

August 09, 2021 14:59 - 12 minutes - 2.85 MB

When we were making the decision to homeschool there were some pretty big hang-ups. Today I'm sharing some of the things we gave up when we decided to pull our kids out of public school, grieving the loss of those things and what we thought our life would look like, and why we made the decision to school at home anyway and how we're moving forward!

First Year Homeschooling! What curriculum did we choose?!

August 06, 2021 15:00 - 13 minutes - 9.45 MB

We are officially in our first week of Homeschool! I was blown away by all the options available for curriculum...it is so overwhelming BUT I think we found one that will work for us as we ease into this new way of life! Masterbooks has made it SO easy to have individual subjects where we need it (math, language arts) and combine subjects where we can (science, history, art, Bible).

Making the Decision to Homeschool!! Why we pulled our kids out of public school

July 27, 2021 15:21 - 15 minutes - 11.3 MB

I'm so excited to bring this Homeschool series to you! We are going to cover all the things as we start this new journey from why we're pulling our kids out of public school, curriculum choices, scheduling, working and homeschooling, and even grieving the things we've given up by making this choice! Join me today for the first episode of the series as I share why we are choosing to homeschool our children!

Is it time to break up with Netflix? The impact of media on our families

July 19, 2021 17:39 - 17 minutes - 12.4 MB

Is it time to cancel your Netflix? Today I share why my family no longer uses certain streaming services. Your family will receive a message from social media one way or another...what that message is, depends on the source!

Letting Go of Control - Are we trusting God with the lives of our children?

July 15, 2021 14:13 - 11 minutes - 8.04 MB

Sometimes it feels as if, just as I'm learning to trust God with my own life, I'm just beginning to trust Him with the lives of our kids. The control freak in me really struggles to let my little arrows fly on their own. We can learn so much from Abraham - His faith in God was tested when it came to his son in many ways, from the wait to have him to the willingness to sacrifice him. Over time, Abraham grew to trust God with his son, just as much as he did with his own life.

Want more Jesus in your home?! These are my 10 favorite ways to invite God into your home on the daily

July 12, 2021 19:00 - 19 minutes - 13.8 MB

I want my kids to feel SURROUNDED by God each and every day. He isn't just someone we visit on Sundays! These are my 10 favorite ways to invite Him into our home each day. Little but INTENTIONAL changes each day can make a HUGE difference in the lives of our families! Check out my website for a printable download too! amandalovato.org

SUPER Simple Laundry and Dishes Schedule! Keep your sanity while tackling these 2 ever-present chores!

July 08, 2021 15:57 - 6 minutes - 4.36 MB

Laundry and Dishes are my two LEAST favorite chores - and of course, they are the ones that we have every day, no matter what! Today I'm sharing my SUPER simple way that I schedule these chores into my day so that they get done, in a no stress way!

Our Experience with Different School Settings + a BIG Announcement!

July 05, 2021 20:53 - 19 minutes - 14.4 MB

Today I am sharing our family's experiences with a variety of school settings including public, private, charter and homeschool! ***These are MY FAMILY'S Experiences ONLY*** Plus - we're making a big change this August! We are pulling our kids and homeschooling permanently - I share my thoughts on that too!

Finding Rest in a Busy Season

June 30, 2021 19:22 - 17 minutes - 12.4 MB

As a family of 4, we are naturally busy and time can get away from us if we aren't intentional about protecting it. Rest is SO important though! Our God gave us the example right at the beginning. Today I'm sharing lessons we can learn about the importance of rest and some of my favorite mom hacks for building it into our day and preserving it once we find it. Take a moment to breathe - we all need a little rest, restoration and reprieve!

Raising Kind Kids - How to instill a life of service in your children

June 21, 2021 15:56 - 14 minutes - 10.2 MB

Today I'm sharing my 6 favorite ways to encourage kindness in our children. Help your kids stop fighting, show love, and find the value in serving other people! We're talking about the harm in comparison, respecting the need for space, helping our kids talk about their feelings, and teaching them to serve each other! All with a Biblical foundation and my favorite way to share about our day at dinner! I want my kids to be kind and loving to the people around them and it all starts at home.

Counting Your Blessings When Things Don't Go Your Way

June 15, 2021 21:51 - 11 minutes - 8.42 MB

How do you teach your children to focus on the blessings of God, even when things don't go your way, or bad things happen? A little intention to stop bad attitudes in their tracks can go a long way! Today I give 3 ways to consistently remind your children (and yourself!) to be thankful for the blessings you have!

Choosing the Right School for Your Family - What are you options?

June 12, 2021 14:12 - 23 minutes - 17.7 MB

Are you getting ready to start the schooling process with your child? Or maybe your family's needs have changed so you need a new school environment but don't know where to start? This one is for you! Relying on my 15 years in education and personal experiences as a parent, I'm giving the pros/cons of each

Simple Ways to Invite God Into Your Home

June 08, 2021 21:03 - 8 minutes - 6.46 MB

Are you looking for ways to surround your family with the word of God and Invite Him into your home on the regular? Today, I share some of the ways I keep Jesus in our focus without adding more items to my to to list! Be sure to visit amandalovato.org/shop for a Change-Ups for Christ cheat sheet!

Summer Clean-Out Week 4!!!

June 05, 2021 14:59 - 10 minutes - 7.64 MB

We did it Momma! We've made it through our 20 days to a more organized home, summer clean out!!! This last week we are going to tackle all the random miscellaneous things....closets, medicine cabinets, the garage (yikes!) and finish up our home so we can enjoy the summer! Don't forget to post your before/after pics! facebook.com/pointinglittlearrows

Why I don't yell at my kids...and what I do instead!

June 01, 2021 15:57 - 13 minutes - 10.3 MB

Summer is here! For my family this means I have all 4 kiddos at home with me during the day again! Today I'm sharing why I made the intentional decision NOT to yell at my children, and things I've found I can do instead to get their attention. If you're wanting to create a more peaceful atmosphere in your home, this one is for you! Let's use our words intentionally as Mommas to create the home and relationships we want, with our families.

20 Days to a More Organized Home - Week 3: Kitchen and Pantry

May 29, 2021 14:49 - 6 minutes - 4.93 MB

We are in week 3 of our 20 days to a more organized home summer clean out edition! Half Way done! This week we are tackling the pantry, and kitchen - including that Fridge and Freezer! Join my Facebook page to share those before and after pics! https://www.facebook.com/pointinglittlearrows

Are you in a Season of Stretch?

May 24, 2021 17:56 - 13 minutes - 9.7 MB

We are coming out of a time of stretch - when we've had to decide whether to follow the rules or do what's right. We chose the latter and it came with a cost, it was hard. Today I share some reflective thoughts now that I've had time for my heart and head to clear. God doesn't promise things will always be easy BUT He does promise to walk with us through it. Also - it is a BLESSING for your kids to see you go through hard things and come out of it stronger.

20 Days to a more Organized Home - Week 2 we are tackling the Adult stuff - get ready mom and dad cuz' now it's Your turn!

May 24, 2021 15:05 - 5 minutes - 4.15 MB

We are diving into Week 2 of our 20 days to a more organized home: Summer Clean-Out Edition. This week is ALL ABOUT the adult stuff! We've tackled the kid's things and now it's our turn!

I'm having SO much FUN in this area as a mom - What is it? We talk about it today! Also - The Bible tells us God "delights" in us! Do you believe that?!

May 18, 2021 14:47 - 5 minutes - 4.44 MB

Watching my kids participate in areas they THRIVE in is one of my greatest joys as a mother. I delight in getting to share this with them. You know what? God delights in Us too! How much? So much He sent His son to provide a way for us to be with Him always! What are some areas your kids excel in? Let's find some delight in this momma-gig sis!

20 Days to a More Organized Home - Summer Clean-Out Edition! Week 1: Tackling The Kids Things!

May 15, 2021 14:55 - 8 minutes - 6.19 MB

Are you ready for a more organized home?! We are kicking off my 20 days to a more organized home, summer clean out edition THIS WEEK! SO Excited to walk with you through this process as I flex my mommy super power of organization! For a Checklist that you can download and print visit my website: amandalovato.org/shop

Dealing with the "Hurtfulls" of Life

May 11, 2021 14:52 - 4 minutes - 2.99 MB

My 3 year old had an allergic reaction and told her big sister she had "hurtfulls" (hives) all over her. How many of us Mommas have hurtfulls in our own lives? Join me today as we dive into Psalms 34 and learn what God says to do when we hurt, have fears, or life is troubling. I'm using the NIV Case for Christ Study Bible.

You are a blessing Momma! happy Mother's Day 2021

May 08, 2021 14:24 - 9 minutes - 2.21 MB

Today - The heart of Pointing Little Arrows- the foundational beliefs God placed on my heart as I started this blog and podcast. What your kids need He will provide - and, He'll give you the tools you need! I pray a special Mother's Day blessing on you as we dive into this weekend! Let's Encourage each other!

4 Things Every Mother Should Know.... Happy Mothers Day 2021

May 08, 2021 14:24 - 9 minutes - 2.21 MB

Today - The heart of Pointing Little Arrows- the foundational beliefs God placed on my heart as I started this blog and podcast. What your kids need He will provide - and, He'll give you the tools you need! I pray a special Mother's Day blessing on you as we dive into this weekend! Let's Encourage each other!

My God. He is wondrous, miraculous and enormous...and He is longing to have a relationship with you

May 04, 2021 19:56 - 7 minutes - 1.79 MB

In today's episode I talk about my daughter's favorite song and why I can't get through it without becoming overwhelmed by the Enormity of our God. He loves you mommas and wants desperately for you to know Him and have a relationship with Him. This song I mention today was written by Sinach and performed by Michael W. Smith!

Are you using your words intentionally each day?

May 01, 2021 14:15 - 5 minutes - 1.25 MB

There are a lot of words we say as moms. Phrases like, "did you wash your hands," come out of my mouth on a regular basis, without even a second thought. But what would happen if we turned our focus and intentionally and purposefully used these moments to ask our kids questions that encourage them to open their hearts and share with us? We can show the love of Jesus through our words!

3 Easy Steps to Finding Your Momma Strengths

April 29, 2021 14:08 - 6 minutes - 1.57 MB

Our God is so amazing and awesome- He has instilled in us the gifts and abilities we need to be the moms we're meant to be...but how do we know what those strengths are?! Join me today as I break down 3 easy Steps for pinpointing your gifts and identifying your strengths!

Chicken Salad, Mary, and Mommy Doubts

April 27, 2021 15:15 - 4 minutes - 954 KB

Sometimes our days as Mommas just don't go the way we planned. God has a plan and a purpose for you AND your children, and He will help us get there despite of ourselves.

Mommas- We are Warriors

April 24, 2021 15:30 - 7 minutes - 1.64 MB

Psalms 127:4 says children are like arrows I. the hands of a warrior- Mammas! We are Warriors! What does that even mean? What does it take to be a warrior momma? joined me in this new, totally unedited, mini-cast as we learn to identify, strengthen and use our God given talents to point our families to Christ

COMING SOON Pointing Little Arrows podcast

April 21, 2021 16:21 - 40 seconds - 159 KB

Hi! I'm Amanda- momma warrior to 4 beautiful kids. psalms 127:4 says like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in our youth. we are warriors momma! the best part is that God has already given you everything you need for this task and he PERFECTLY paired those gifts with the children you were blessed with! I'm so excited to have you join me as we learn to identify, strengthen and use our God given abilities to point our little arrows to Christ!

Pointing Little Arrows - Intentional, Faith-based, Parenting

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