Coach Mom/Ministry – Brenna Stull

Jun 19
2019

9 Tips for Keeping Your Sanity at Home With Kids This Summer

by Brenna

You made it through May! Congrats! Now…how do you make the most of summer?

I collaborated with some friends to bring you 9 Tips for summer at home with kids:

1. Keep a routine (#1 answer) – Have you ever noticed how frustrating that first week out of school can be? (I brace myself for it every year!) I think it has a lot to do with family members not having clear expectations. Communicating with family members and making decisions on when certain things will happen help everyone to feel more settled. It also gives some focus so that days are not whittled away without purpose.

Your schedule might include routines for any or all of the following:

“Tidy Time” – make bed, tidy room
Independent Time – grow creativity with reading, drawing, building with legos
Screen Time – I know this one can be hard, but, momma, set some boundaries. What is really reasonable?
Exercise – everyone needs this and is happier when they have it
Bible Time – memorize a scripture together or just read a verse or chapter and discuss applications. Just a few minutes each day of discussion can add up to big impact.
Activity time – work a puzzle together, play a game, do a craft, make a card or gift for an upcoming birthday
Meal Times – what meals can kids be in charge of?
Bed Time – sticking with a somewhat normal schedule here pays off in lots of ways, especially when school starts again

2. Choose 1-2 life skills to teach your children – This might include learning to pack their own lunch, tie their shoes, make their own breakfast…even pump themselves on a swing! 🙂 Older children might have the opportunity to create a digital album of the family vacation, open a bank account, or learn how to put gas in the car.

3. Go to the library – It’s a fun outing, your kids keep reading skills sharp, and it’s FREE. [Tip: Keep a designated basket for library books so they are easy to keep track of and easily returned. Set a reminder on your phone to return books before their due date.]

4. Everyone in the family declutter a drawer.

Empty contents of drawer
Put back in only what goes in that drawer
Put giveaway items in a bag
Put leftover items back where they belong

Do this little exercise a few times a week and by the time school starts, everyone is ready to start their new schedule more organized.

5. Post an “I’m Bored” list – Any time kids complain or are getting into mischief because of boredom, have them pick something off the list to do.

Ideas to get you started:

Watering plants
Sweeping the porch
Gathering trash
Matching “extra” socks from the laundry
Cleaning the dog bowls

When I have a long list of things that need to be done, I give my kids fair warning that the slightest little hint of “boredom” will earn them a job. 🙂

6. Movie nights – If you have or can borrow a projector, create a fun family night by hanging a sheet and using a computer/projector to watch a movie. If you have a pool, set it up so you can watch it while floating on rafts. Invite neighbor friends!

7. Set the timer for a half hour and work on home responsibilities – If kids balk at the idea, remind them that there are about 16 hours in the day. If they are not working outside the home, 30 minutes out of 16 hours is not much to ask. (Remind them you are feeding them, clothing them, and giving them a bed to sleep in!)

Depending on the age, here are some ideas:

Empty the dishwasher
Gather trash
Sweep
Mop
Assist in cleaning the kitchen
Wash windows
Food prep
Vacuum

It is especially helpful to do this before taking the kids to do that desireable activity — “As soon as we all finish our 30 minutes, we can go swimming…” Rewards for good attitudes are fun to throw in every now and then. And it is rewarding for your kids to feel part of a team, learn responsibilities, and feel gratified with a job well done.

8. Backpack and lunch box shopping – This might be online or a trip to the store, but to me it has always seemed more fun to buy school supplies when we didn’t wait til the last minute when the pressure was on.

Use it as a fun activity early in the summer. If your school has posted the school supply list for the fall, you can even go ahead and make the purchases and fill the backpacks and put them in the top of a closet. It feels so good to just pull down the readied backpack in August.

9. Fill out school registrations online – If you have multiple children, you know how stressful and time consuming it can be in August to get all the paperwork filled out while everything is starting up. There is something about getting things like this done ahead of time that just makes me soooo happy – it’s empowering!

I hope you’ve found at least one or two new ideas to make your summer better. I’m here for you — please email me any topics you would like to see discussed.

Let’s go make every minute count,

Brenna

Jun 3
2014

Wellspring Church – 4 months old

by Brenna

It has been two months since our last update in “Wellspring: A Church is Birthed”, and we have been meeting as a church for 4 months now. We want to thank all of our partners and tell you that we are already seeing fruit. We have seen a number of people profess faith in Christ, and we have had two baptism services, baptizing six.

Wellspring Church’s first baptism service, mid-March in the courtyard of Mabel Padgett Elementary School.

Chris is delivering great sermons, and many have asked about making podcasts of his messages available. We are praying we can get that feature on our website soon.

Our handy team members are always figuring out clever ways to get what we need in the thriftiest way possible. Mike Hartwick went to the home improvement store and built the needed drum enclosure with his own two hands! Doesn’t it look professional?

Derek Stull has continued to lead well in worship, and pull in other talented young musicians as well.

We were blessed to have FBC Mustang, OK, come out during Spring Break and help with all sorts of things. They painted two houses, worked at the teenage pregnancy center, served two days at the Agua Fria Food Bank, passed out invitations to Wellspring, did concerts, and they sang the National Anthem at a major league Spring Training game.

Brenna Stull had a chance to share the Wellspring story with Tom Brown on FaithTalk Radio in April.

Leader meetings at the Stulls’ house have grown to be 60 strong, and have included potluck dinner, sharing stories, prayer, and planning.

No shortage of food at the leader meetings (this is after most had been through the line!)

Leaders fellowship around the tables before the planning meeting begins.

Attendance on Sundays has grown steadily from 115 two months ago to 186 in attendance by the end of May. We also reconfigured our Sunday worship set-up to center the big screen, and were able to purchase a new and improved sound system.

Wellspring worship leaders Derek Stull and Manny Orozco along with Taylor Napodano had the chance to lead worship at the Phoenix Country Club for the Good Friday service, which included pastors and leaders from congregations all over the Valley.

At the Good Friday breakfast Chris and Brenna were able to share a word, and were encouraged and thrilled to meet a number of people who share a similar vision for God’s heart for Phoenix’s revival.

A group from Cross-Eyed Skates, a skate ministry out of FBC McKinney, came out the weekend before Easter to lead a Wellspring outreach at the Goodyear Skate Park. They also served at Wellspring’s Easter Eggstravaganza community outreach the day before Easter, where children hunted for over 4,000 eggs the youth group had prepared.

Derek did a great job leading the Easter Choir, which included a variety of ages: 11 years to age 85. The Easter Choir had a blast practicing and can’t wait until the next time they can sing. We had 206 in attendance on Easter.

Powerful teaching from Jill Rhodes continued at the Heart & Home Bible Study through April, reaching about 20 women each Wednesday night, and 15 each Thursday mornings.

Brenna with LIFT (Leaders In Fellowship Together) Leaders Pam Lyons and Sandy Betgur. Brenna had the chance to speak to the women’s ministers of Greater Phoenix at an all-day conference end of April. She shared how God has led them in their giving, adopting, and planting a church as they sought and surrendered to the Lord’s will. And she dared them to ask the Lord for direction and be open to new things God might do.

Derek and Taylor had the opportunity to lead worship at the State Capitol lawn on the National Day of Prayer.

Shawn and Lisa Copeland continue to give strong leadership to our middle school and high school students each Wednesday night. The youth will be joining North Phoenix Baptist Church’s camp in Big Bear, California, the third week of June.

The Sunday following Easter we met at a nearby park for “Party in the Park”, an after-Easter celebration.

Chris shared a brief message and Nicki Pacheco shared her testimony.

God blessed us with 72 degrees and sun! It was a day full of JOY and fellowship.

Three believers were baptized in the portable baptistry.

Party in the Park included a tasty lunch by the generous Doug Johnston of Choo Choo Bar-b-q, and fun on the ball fields.

Women’s Bible Studies wrapped up with a dinner in May. Forty women came and shared fellowship, food, testimonies about the past year, and looked ahead at the upcoming summer activities. One testimony: Dorothy shared that she had actually moved to Phoenix to be a part of Wellspring Church, because she had heard about what was going on and didn’t want to miss it. Natalie shared that she and her family had planned to move away from Phoenix this summer, but are considering staying because of Wellspring Church.

Women stayed and visited into the night.

The Wellspring Men also meet each Friday morning at 6 a.m. for powerful Bible Study, share and prayer time (but it’s too early to remember a camera, thus no photo! :))

On the home front news: the Stulls received on May 15 the document they desperately needed by May 19 in order to proceed with their visa applications to bring home their two adopted children from Sierra Leone. This allows their file to move on to the U.S. Embassy in Sierra Leone. They are praying the visas will be issued by July (instead of the normal 4-5 months) so that the kids can come home and get to know the family as a unit before the oldest two sons leave for college in August.

A note from the Stulls:

We thank God for the privilege of serving Him, and for having us here for such a time as this. The biggest news is that we feel we are seeing, since Passover/Good Friday/April 18, the first Phoenix’s breakthrough for revival. Since that date, God has shown us daily new hearts He is stirring to trust Him in new ways, let go of baggage, fully surrender, and see new visions for what God wants to do. We thank Him and we praise Him.

We continue to seek to stay as close as possible to Him, being right in step to cooperate with His plans…not running ahead and not lagging behind. It is a heated battle, but God is greater. We know it is not by our might or power, but by His Spirit that we do everything.

“Hope deferred makes the heart grow sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12 We thank God for the start of fulfilled longings!

Thank you to everyone who, through their financial gifts and prayer, is enabling this ministry to do all that it is.

Bless you!

Chris & Brenna Stull

…and one last photo! Wellspring Church just had our first young marrieds dinner at the Hartwick’s house. These are a few of the couples who came. We enjoyed an evening of hearing each other’s love stories, and look forward to the small group Bible Study in the Fall.

Mar 3
2014

A Church is Birthed: Wellspring

by Brenna

It is hard to believe that just one year ago God was beginning to stir in our hearts the idea of moving to Phoenix to plant a church. He has shown us that we are a small piece of the grand puzzle he is putting together in Phoenix that we believe will be a picture of His mighty power and glory. Our desire is stay close to Him so that we may fully cooperate with what He is doing. “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland,” (Isaiah 43:19).

*

We are thankful to our sending church First Baptist McKinney, Texas, and our hosting church North Phoenix Baptist Church. We are also thankful to Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall, Texas, and the friends, family and partners who are giving support. God has provided a strong leadership team, place for us to meet, name, iconic logo, musicians, sound system, and so much more.

*

Following are a few photos of what has transpired since we moved here 7 months ago:

We have handed out over 1,600 of these invitations over the last 6 weeks, directing people to wellspring church.com. A big thank you to Jeff Simpson of Day6 for creating a great logo, and to Mark Presley for the graphic design of that logo for cards and signs.

These postcard invitations went out to homes within a 6-mile radius of the school where we meet.

Mabel Padgett Elementary School - 15430 W. Turney Ave., Goodyear: Our front door — Mabel Padgett Elementary School – 15430 W. Turney Ave., Goodyear: Our front door

God provided two great used trucks to hold our 300 chairs, AV equipment, pipe and drape, rugs, and supplies. Our set-up team has been unloading the trucks and getting the worship center set up in only 35 minutes! The rare rainy day provided a cool reflection.

Thankful to HEB Printing in Dallas, TX, for the super signs, which are used on site and on street corners.

We had 277 people for our launch service on Feb. 9! Since then we have had between 110-135 on a weekly basis. — We set up 300 chairs and had 277 people for our launch service on Feb. 9! Since then we have set up about 140 chairs and had between 110-135 on a weekly basis.

Worship leader Derek Stull is doing a great job leading music, along with a number of talented musicians God has brought our way.

Wellspring's Core Values: Seeking, Connecting, Giving, Growing — Wellspring’s Core Values: Seeking, Connecting, Giving, Growing

Pastor Chris Stull preaching about our Savior Jesus Christ, the Wellspring - a refreshing source of life. — Pastor Chris Stull preaching about our Savior Jesus Christ, the Wellspring – a refreshing source of life.

We are enjoying the courtyard at the school for fellowship after services. After the launch service, Doug Johnston of All Aboard Barbecue served 300 barbecue sandwiches and hotdogs. Thank you, Doug!

Courtyard fellowship – God blessed us with a 72-degree sunny day for our launch.

Heart & Home Bible study launched in November and has met since then. It meets in our home and we have the privilege of being taught by amazing Bible teacher Jill Rhodes. — Heart & Home Bible study launched in November and has been meeting since then. It meets in our home and we have the privilege of being taught by amazing Bible teacher Jill Rhodes. “I have been in Bible studies before that were informational, but this has been transformational from day one,” said Jeri. “This has been the best thing that happened to me since I moved to Arizona,” said Lindsay.

Incorporated in the Heart & Home Bible Study each meeting is a practical take-home item.

Wellspring Women: Share and Prayer time around the fire pit — Wellspring Women: Share and prayer time around the fire pit

Wellspring's first DiscipleNow weekend: Feb. 27-March 2. Twenty-four youth attended, and a number of them have expressed a desire for baptism. — Wellspring’s first DiscipleNow weekend: Feb. 27-March 2. Twenty-four youth attended, and a number of them have expressed a desire for baptism. (The hand sign is a “W” for “Wellspring”.)

The Youth at DNow weekend collected 1,600 items for a local church’s pantry. The high school girls won the contest for the most items.

Youth shared in the worship service how the Lord impacted their lives at DNow weekend.

Chris preaching about how we as followers of Christ are empowered to change the world.

A big thank you to the team from Lake Pointe Church that came to serve over launch weekend. They hosted a luncheon for the teachers and administrators at Mabel Padgett Elementary. They also helped make and pass out 1,500 water invites, and host a "date night" for military couples at Luke AFB, load and unload trucks for the service, and work in preschool and children's ministries. (As you can imagine, they also greatly encouraged us!) — A big thank you to the team from Lake Pointe Church that came to serve over launch weekend. They hosted a luncheon for the teachers and administrators at Mabel Padgett Elementary. They also helped make and pass out 1,500 water invites, host a “date night” for military couples at Luke AFB, load and unload trucks for the service, and work in preschool and children’s ministries. (As you can imagine, they also greatly encouraged us!)

…and lastly, all of the above pictures would not be if it were not for the dedicated launch team members. They have joined us in our home twice a month for potlucks/planning since August. They are selfless servants who just want the Lord to be lifted up and God's Kingdom to be increased. We thank God for them! — …and lastly, all of the above pictures would not be if it were not for the dedicated launch team members. They have met in our home at least twice a month for potlucks/planning since August. They are selfless servants who just want the Lord to be lifted up and God’s Kingdom to be increased. We thank God for them!

Feb 28
2013

A Lesson in Pruning

by Brenna

Valentine’s Day I took the plunge. Knowing it was the recommended day for pruning rose plants in North Texas, and looking for any excuse I could find to get outside and enjoy the sunny 65-degree day, I overcame the intimidation and did it. I researched a few pruning tips online, gathered my leather gloves and clippers, and trimmed back my Belinda rose bush.

Having just attended the Ash Wednesday service at our church the night before, I worked on the rose bush and thought about the pruning God is doing in my life during this season of Lent.

“I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:1-2

God revealed to me my own life step-by-step as I worked on the bush:

– Removing the dead canes, I thought about how God wants to remove the worthless things in my life that do not contribute towards the purposes He has for me.

– As I snipped off small green stems I thought about the areas in my life that may seem okay, but are draining energy away from the areas in my life that God deems as top priority for this season. Actually, those “good parts” sometimes take the greatest courage to remove. But I know God will free up my energy for the “best parts” when I allow the pruning process.

– Some branches were healthy and nice sized, but they overlapped, which can make rose bushes prone to disease. So they had to go. I wonder how many times my schedule has overlapping parts that create an atmosphere of stress and worry that crowd out my joy and peace. If branches are too crowded, they can’t get enough sun. In the same way, if all my time is committed to busy activity, it leaves no time for prayer or reading the Bible– I can’t get enough of the Son.

– I then removed the inward growing branches. Outward is the healthy way for the bush to grow. I pray regularly that God would deliver me from my selfish ways and give me His love for others, spending my time and energies to reach outward. It’s amazing how healthy I become when I focus on others instead of myself.

– Next I scattered a few tablespoons of *Epsom salt around the base of my bush, and water it. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” I pray my speech and life are salty enough to cause others to thirst for the living waters of salvation found in Christ.

– Although my bush looked pretty pitiful when I was finished, I encouraged myself that it will look beautiful in its time. Roses are perfectly capable of sending new shoots out of old branches, even if they are the size of tree trunks! This reminds me that even as I age God can continue to bring new and fresh fruit through me for His glory and honor. I need not fear letting go of the old works that God has done. He is always doing new things.

“The Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul, spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12-13

Father, I praise you for being the Master Gardener. Thank you for doing your pruning with tender loving care. Give me the discipline to daily be in your Word, knowing it is one of your most valuable tools in this pruning process. I pray that I might bear a lifetime of fruit for your honor and glory. Amen.

*Here are some practical gardening tips using the inexpensive household ingredient Epsom salt:

Epsom salt is an inexpensive and organic fertilizer for the rose plant that increases the size of the roses, provides a rich color to the flower, and increases the number of buds on the plant.

Before planting a rose bush soak its roots overnight in a solution of Epsom salt and water (about ½ cup of salt in 1 gallon of water). In the hole that you have prepared to plant the roses, put another tablespoon of crystals before you put the plant in. After planting, put another ½ cup of Epsom salt in the soil and mix down to two inches deep.

For plants already in the ground, scatter one tablespoon of Epsom salt for each foot your rose bush is high at the base of each rose bush, then water the plant. Do this in the Spring and again in the Fall. Dissolve a tablespoon per gallon of water then spray on plants after leaves appear and again when the roses bloom.

*This inexpensive household product is also said to be helpful for tomato and pepper plants. The magnesium sulfate in it increases chlorophyll production and helps plants use phosphorus and nitrogen better. When transplanting tomato and pepper plants, sprinkle one tablespoon around each transplant. Then spray them with 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt per gallon of water at the first planting, again when blossoms appear, and at fruit set.

Prepare garden soil by sprinkling up to 1 cup of Epsom salt per 100 square feet, then work it into the soil before seeding or planting.

Dec 1
2012

Keep Jesus the Focus this Christmas

by Brenna

Many in our culture really have no idea what the true meaning of Christmas is. Our pastor recently shared that the top 10 Christmas songs have nothing to do with Christ. Imagine what Christ feels about that – a huge birthday celebration, but the one having the birthday is overlooked and forgotten.

We are so deceived…hustle, bustle, shopping, baking, wearing ourselves out, spoiled kids, overwhelmed with stuff…stomachs are left full (overloaded with sugar, usually) but souls are left empty.

Some ideas for keeping Jesus the focus of your family’s Christmas:

Set up nativity scenes in your home.
Play Christmas music in your home that sings about Christ’s birth.
Teach your children the history of Saint Nicholas and what he did out of his love for Jesus.
Read Luke 2 together as a family before opening gifts.
Make a birthday cake for Jesus.

This December let’s have Christ-mas…more of Christ.

Merry Christmas!

Feb 1
2012

Sweetheart of a Giveaway

by Brenna

Welcome to the new blog site! All your favorite posts, organization and recipes, are still here. I packed them up and moved to a new address.

So now that I’m here, I’d love to have you Subscribe to the blog. Get the latest recipe, Coach Mom hint, or inspirational story.

And as long as I’m making changes, I am cleaning up things on Facebook®, too. On Facebook®, there was a Coach Mom Group, a Coach Mom Page, and a Brenna Stull Page – too many options. Going forward, I will only post to the Coach Mom Page. Facebook is archiving the Coach Mom Group and I will delete the Brenna Stull Page in the next few days.

All of which leads me to the Sweetheart of a Giveaway:

Subscribe to the blog AND “like” the Coach Mom Page on Facebook®. Then comment on this Post for the chance to win $50 gift card for a dinner date with your sweetheart!

But don’t wait too long – the drawing will be February 10!

Happy Valentines! And remember … God Loves You MOST!

Oct 5
2010

A Little One-on-One

by Brenna

I heard, “Here, Mom!” and looked up just in time for the corner of a hardbound book to hit me in my right eye. Thanks a lot, buster (aka son)…Parenting can be such a dangerous job! I don’t know if I cried more over my eye pain or the frustration that things just seemed to be going all wrong that day. My husband and I had just made an inter-state move with our five children ages one to ten, and stress and exhaustion levels were high. Though I didn’t feel well that day, I was trying to unpack some boxes. I wasn’t making much progress because my three-year-old son kept misbehaving. Finally I realized he might just need some individual attention. I walked away from the boxes and sat down on the couch, offering to read him a book. A few seconds later, as I was talking with my one-year-old, the unexpected book came hurling across the room.

Sometimes as moms we feel like we are getting nowhere in our best efforts to parent and do the right things for our children. Instead of the heartwarming snuggly storytime I envisioned, I ended up with a black eye. (We did actually get around to the book once I got over my 5-minute pity party).

Don’t give up in the fight to parent well. One of the best gifts we can give our children is meaningful time with them as individuals. In our house, it’s easy to move from one thing to another as a group, and lose sight of them as individuals. In that case, the most powerful personalities dominate the attention and the activities.

I can’t believe the new insights and understanding I’ve gained about my children by spending individual time with them. God made them each unique, and we want them each to be able to develop to their fullest potential.

Some one-on-one tips:

Calendar the time for individual interaction, or you will always put it off until the next week. (If you have a baby, it is wise to plan for the time with the older children during baby’s naptime.)
Let the children decide the activity for their individual interaction time. For little ones, you may want to give them two or three options to choose from.
It does not have to cost any money, but it does cost time, which is one of the greatest gifts you can give them.
Allow only true emergencies to interrupt the time you have set aside.
Set the timer for the allotted time, and let the other children know you are off-limits during that time. They will honor that rule for each other, since they know the others will honor it when their time comes.

You may never dream of the enriching time you will have yourself! I’ve been instructed in martial arts, played a good few rounds of HORSE in basketball, built with legos and K-Nex(not as easy as it appears!), played with Littlest Pet Shop figures, and gone on picnics.

Have fun playing a little one-on-one! Your kids will not forget it. And my hunch is that you won’t either.

Sep 7
2010

Get to Know Your Teacher

by Brenna

This month’s Chalk Talk with Coach Mom newsletter we heard from teachers: how parents can help their children succeed, how we can best help them, and their favorite ways to be shown appreciation.

Gift cards came in as the #1 gift idea, and many teachers commented that small acts of thoughtfulness sometimes were as meaningful as anything. How can we know specifically what means the most to each teacher? Just ask!

Following are some questions I bet your child’s teacher would be more than happy to answer:

When is your birthday? Anniversary?
What is your favorite color?
List 3 favorite restaurants.
Favorite movie theatre?
List 3 favorite snacks.
Favorite drink?
Are you a coffee drinker? Favorite kind?
Do you have any pets? (Name/type)
What are your hobbies and interests?
Favorite fast food meals?
Favorite meals for your family?

After the teachers fill in their answers, photocopy the sheets so that everyone in each class has the chance to get to know the teachers. Then as you study the answers, make your plan…

Organize a “surprise the teacher with a treat” (a favorite snack, drink, or lunch) twice a month for the school year.
Organize a gift card tree for the teacher’s birthday and ask students to bring $5 gift cards. Punch holes in them (strategically) and tie them with ribbons on a plant or branch “planted” in a pot.
Organize the class to provide meals for the teacher’s family on nights requiring a late stay, such as open house or meet-the-teacher nights.
Have all the children bring encouraging notes on the same day and tape them to the door.
Go together with other families to give the teacher gift cards to favorite restaurants.
For her birthday, bring a place setting from home and set up the teacher’s special lunch in the teacher’s lounge. (Do it on “half-birthdays” if your teacher has a summer birthday.)

And if you have time to spread “a little more love”…

Write notes to former teachers thanking them for their impact on your child’s life, recalling a special memory in their class, and updating them on the latest news about your child.

May 7
2010

Craving Some Eatin’ Out Savings

by Brenna

Mother’s Day is around the corner and many people are considering their eating out options. Since I wrote this month’s Coach Mom newsletter on making the most of coupons when grocery shopping, I thought I might mention a little about a good coupon source for eating out.

It is so costly for our family of seven to eat out that, aside from a congratulations dinner after Spring piano recital each year, we rarely do it. We for the most part have reserved eating out for dates for two. However, Restaurant.com has changed that.

Last week my family celebrated my son Caleb’s 12^th birthday by eating at one of our favorite restaurants, Hutchin’s BBQ. I had purchased a $25 certificate from Restaurant.com on an 80 percent off sale, so instead of the normal $10 price I got it for $2.00. The only requirement was that we spend at least $35. The seven of us spent a little more than that ($39.50). After using the $25 certificate (that I only paid $2 for) we only owed $14.50. Not bad for drinks, entrees, and desserts for seven!

To get coupons for restaurants near you, simply go to http://www.restaurant.com, and enter your zip code. A list of restaurants will come up with available certificates for purchase. For example, Aparicio’s has a $10 gift certificate for $4. The only stipulation is that you spend a minimum of $20 when you go to eat there.

That’s good, but if you want a great deal, sign up for Restaurant.com’s special email savings alerts by clicking “sign up now!” You will receive a weekly email that alerts you to their specials of 60, 70, or 80% sales on their certificates.

Check it out, moms! You might even find a good place for your family to take you this weekend. Happy Mother’s Day! And if your family is going to be traveling this summer, remember to check Restaurant.com for restaurants in your vacation cities.

Dec 14
2009

Appearing on Good Morning Texas

by Brenna

I am appearing on Good Morning Texas (WFAA-TV, Channel 8), December 15 at 9 a.m., doing a segment with Paige Smith.

Your prayers & viewing are appreciated. Then let me know what you think of the segment.