Berkeley County, WV is an area rich with Civil War History, beautiful mountain views and boasts an affordable cost of living within driving distance of our nations capitol.

Our county also boasts the second highest teen pregnancy rate in the state of West Virginia and is one of the only counties in the country that experienced an increase in teen pregnancy between 2007-2009.  Statistics like those break my heart but also spur me on to want to make a difference in the lives of these girls and their children.

Some of my sweet teen mama's with me in May

The work we do to create change in the lives of these girls requires resources.  Time, money and talents.

We are raising money for our ministry in a myriad of ways, including a raffle sponsored by Eastern Panhandle Moms.  The prize is a 16G iPad 2!! We are drawing for it on Wednesday, October 26th and the winner will be announced on that site.  You can live anywhere and purchase tickets {I have friends in Alabama, Indiana and Texas that have purchased tickets!}.  We will ship the iPad to the winner!

Image via CrunchBase

So, if you are interested in purchasing a chance to win {and making a difference in the lives of the two generations we serve} please leave a comment or email me at kmelissasmallwood@gmail.com.  I will provide you with the paypal address.  Tickets are 1 for $10 or 3 tickets for $20!

We have sold 148 tickets so far so your chances of winning are excellent!!!!!

And, I covet your prayers this week as we prepare for our 2nd annual banquet, our largest fundraiser of the year, that will occur on Thursday, October 27th!  Please cover that event in prayer and myself, our director, Jill and the rest of our volunteers as we expect the enemy to attack us all this week as we lead up to the event.

Thank you all!

Seriously? 

We are the meal planners, bottle washers, outfit coordinators, Mt. Saint Laundry climbers, boo boo kissers and teachers. 

Add that to the taxi driver, vacuum operator, hygiene enforcer, social calendar keeper and dust bunny catcher section of the resume.

We are the sibling police, home decorators, brownie bakers (at the last minute because our child forgot to tell us they signed us up for 3 batches), home maintenance supervisors and more.

On top of all that, we need to be lovers extraordinaire, the bed time story reader, healer of broken hearts and bruised friendship fixer.

Don’t forget the need to be the hostess with the mostess, the loser of baby weight, toilet bowl scrubber and toy cleaner upper.

Somehow, we also expect ourselves to be the spiritual thermometer, the memory keeper, the vacation planner and the beauty sleeper. 

How do we do this everyday?  What charges a mama’s batteries?

•  One slobbery kiss from a sweet baby
• A picture, colored inside the lines, just for mommy
• A “please” or “thank you” spoken in public without prompting
• Your lap being the treasured sitting place of a special little one
• Watching chubby legs take their first steps
• The moment your child can read the story to you but still wants Mommy to read it
• Walking out the door with a child wearing stripes and polka dots with their snow boots in the middle of July
• Observing big brother *finally* share a toy with little sister
• Everyone at the dinner table eating the same thing and liking it
• 20 minutes to take a quiet shower because all the kids fell asleep at nap time
• Sleeping breath on your neck as you carry in the child that fell asleep in the car
• Little arms wrapped around your leg, feeling safest when protected by you
• The occasional hug or half grin from a grumpy teenager

All the little things energize me to not only stay the course while my children are young, but to enjoy each moment.  They grow so fast! 

I am energized by watching them grow and develop.  I am energized by catching glimpses of the men they will become. And, I am energized by the memories of the babies they once were.

We do “it” all because we love them.  And, we love them because they own pieces of our hearts. 

 To all the Energizer mama’s out there- charge on!

This post was written as part of the Energizer BlogHer ’10 contest, sponsored by Energizer and @kailani.  I have had the pleasure of working with Energizer for conducting product reviews and giveaways in the past and would be honored to represent their brand at BlogHer.

Thankfully, my kids have grown up in an era when the Bible is translated into words they can understand.  Couple that with the creative folks at Tyndale Publishing and you have the Hands-On Bible- an interactive Bible that my youngest son, Matt, has been enjoying since it arrived in the mail earlier this week.

Here are some things I am impressed with:

• The graphics are “cool” and engaging.  They draw my son in to want to read more and learn more about the stories they depict.
• There is a feature called “Bible Hero Biographies” that really pique a boy’s interest by making the people in the Bible stories relatable and interesting.  Every boy loves a good hero!
• There are “hands on Bible experiences” throughout the Bible that my son has been enjoying.  He has already completed several in just the few days he has had this Bible. (I will share my favorite at the end of this post).  Science experiments, crafts, snack ideas, journaling…true hands-on learning is encouraged in this Bible.

I also like the NLT (New Living Translation) for kids this age.  Matt understands what he reads in a way other translations have not provided him, which is great!  I also appreciate the effort the publishers put into the bonus interactive website, My Hands on Bible, that provides parents with additional resources and ideas (devotions, music and more) for making the Bible interesting and relevant to our kids.

Before I tell you about the contest going on over at the Hands on Bible site (think pizza, Bibles and family fun), I wanted to share one of the activities Matt recently completed from his Hands on Bible.

In the Hands on Bible, it was being explained that Psalm 119 is written as an acrostic poem, except in the Hebrew alphabet.  Then the activity was for kids to make an acrostic poem of their own, using their first name and words that describe God. Here is Matthew’s (spelling errors included =)

M- Maker

A- All-Knowing

T- Tollerent

T- True

H- Holy

E- Extrordinary

W- Willing

Isn’t that awesome?  The Word coming alive to our kids? Nothing better!

So, head on over to their website and check out this awesome Bible and an opportunity to win big!  I will be heading over to purchase one for my six year old nephew!

I was provided a complimentary copy of the Hands On Bible for review.  All opinions are mine (and my child’s) and were not influenced by anyone else.  Thank you to the MOB Society for facilitating this review!

As an avid traveler and lover of amazing places and deals we can share with your our readers, we are thrilled to be working with Villa Group Resorts as we help spread the word about their gorgeous resort properties in Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta and coming soon…Cancun and Loreto Mexico!

Offering families, couples and singles incredible and affordable getaway options throughout the year, this season, Villa Group has introduced ultra-inclusive vacations that include dining and beverages, a kids club, babysitting options, spa packages, golf getaways, dolphin excursions, water sports and much more!

Having stayed at Villa la Estancia in Nuevo Vallarta, I immediately felt like I was being welcomed into the lap of luxury – receiving a hand massage the moment we walked into the lobby. We stayed in a two bedroom suite complete with marble floors, private bathrooms, cozy living room, dining room, massive kitchen and sweeping balcony with a wet bar…can anyone say…margaritas? While I’m culinary challenged (no need to cook since there are fabulous restaurants on the premises including the award-winning La Casona), it’s great knowing that while we’re on vacation, we can store refrigerated snacks, drinks, and breakfast items if we want to sleep in and the kids are in the mood for cereal and cartoons. And the granite countertops, state of the art appliances and sweeping views of the ocean and pool and bathrooms to die for, are not so shabby either!

As you contemplate where you’d like to go for your next vacation, the Villa Group Affiliate Travel Network, comprised of nearly two dozen dynamic parenting and lifestyle bloggers, will offer a series of helpful articles that will give you the inside track on all things Mexico. For our first post, we’re tackling important questions that most travelers ask when they travel to Mexico. Hopefully, this will help guide you as you plan your next vacation!

Q. Is it safe to drink the water in Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas?

A. In Puerto Vallarta, you should be aware that incredible efforts have been made to provide safe water to residents and tourists. Over the last two decades, the Mexican government spent millions of dollars developing a safe water purification system in the area. As a result, this state of the art system has greatly reduced water-induced illnesses for travelers visiting Puerto Vallarta.

According to CaboExpo.com, for visitors to Cabo San Lucas, the resort location has never had the significant water quality problems that mainland Mexico as traditionally experienced:

“Sitting at the bottom of the Baja Peninsula, the fresh water in Los Cabos is some of the best in Baja. The local waters start thousands of feet above Los Cabos in the very tall mountains north of Cabo, drain down into local aquifers, and then are treated locally and then often treated again at the hotel or restaurant level. Tourism is just too important to let bad water become a factor.”

Q. Is it safe to travel to Cabo and Puerto Vallarta? Where are the dangerous parts of Mexico anyway?

A. According to AOL, which recently devoted extensive coverage to Mexico and issues relating to safety and even gives an overview of the places you should avoid, you’ll take comfort knowing that both Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas were ranked as being incredibly safe for travelers. As a precaution, always avoid streets that are not well lit (as you would in any country), but for the most part, your experience should be safe, relaxing and enjoyable!

Q. Are there any safety tips you can offer to a traveler who has never been to Mexico?

A. When you arrive at the airport, make sure you have made provisions for yourself and your traveling companions to take you to your accommodations. There will be many individuals offering you a ride or claiming to be your driver – while they are friendly and it is safe to ride with them, you will be better served if you book a car in advance.

If you decide to leave your resort and travel to a location in the evening, make sure when you are walking at night that you are aware of your surroundings and that you traverse well lit streets. Or, arrange for a car to pick you up after your evening is over. Better to have someone waiting for you to take you back to your hotel then go off exploring in the middle of the night!

Take precautions while swimming, snorkeling or surfing! The surf can be rough – especially in Cabo San Lucas and if you are not a strong swimmer, you may want to take precautions. Or, book an excursion that will take you on a guided water tour with experienced lifeguards on board.

Q. What about taking a road trip – is it better to book a tour or can I go on my own and explore?

A. While you can certainly rent a vehicle and explore Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas on your own, your experienced will definitely be enhanced if you register for a tour that is led by someone who truly knows the lay of the land and the water! While it’s always nice to discover new things, you can accomplish that by being a part of a guided tour and traveling with a group of vacationers like you. Of course, if you’ve been to either resort town many times, then you may feel more comfortable venturing out and returning to a favorite destination – suddenly you’ll be the expert offering tips to new travelers. But if it’s your first time, we suggest consulting with your hotel concierge who can offer some great tour options for you and your family.

Q. Are there parts of Mexico we should avoid due to the BP Oil Spill?

A. Here’s a quick geography lesson: The BP oil spill is nowhere near Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta. While the spill has contaminated many US cities located near the Gulf of Mexico, Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta are located on the west coast surrounding the Sea of Cortez. While travelers may believe that Mexico might have been affected by the recent environmental disaster, the hardest hit regions have been in the United States.

If you’re interested in finding out how you can book an unforgettable vacation in Mexico, visit Villa Group Resorts and check out their hot deals page – where they’ve got some incredible vacation options this summer – plus the offers run through December 2010 so you can book now and still save on your vacation!

And, there’s still time to enter the She Knows ultra inclusive trip giveaway to Puerto Vallarta. Enter today and you and a guest could win an all expenses paid vacation at Villa La Estancia…Arriba!!!

By Beth Feldman, Founder of Role Mommy

This post was sponsored by Role Mommy Writers Network

Here is my response:

Oh.my.word.  What will I do without my internet connection?  The very connection that has provided me with friendships, support and opportunities (not to mention entertainment) could be gone forever. One day I can handle (I probably need a one day break) but one week, one month, one year, FOREVER?  Yikes.

The thought of living without my internet connection is consuming my thoughts.  My stomach is in knots, my head actually hurts- I may very well have an anxiety attack.  Whoa!

Wait a minute…did I actually just say that?  think that?  Have blogging, facebook, twitter and email really become that important to me?  To be quite honest- yes.

It has been said that we are spiritual beings on a human journey.  I believe that.  I also believe that we are made for connection.  I am fortunate enough to live in a time where the ability to connect with like minded women that I may never have otherwise come in contact with lies at my fingertips.  I don’t want to lose that.  I am passionate about…

my internet connection. My online community. My blog.

So now I need y’all to excuse me while I raise some holy heck (like only we “mommy bloggers” can) to see what the powers that be are doing about this pending emergency.

What makes you feel beautiful, ageless? 

 B.C. (before children) I felt beautiful when I saw my flat stomach in the mirror, when my chest was, shall we say, perkier?  When my hair was done and make-up applied. Granted, I am only thirty years old, but circumstances make me feel older than that on most days.

When I saw this contest and thought about writing this post I had to think about what makes me feel beautiful now.  When you live with chronic illness, feeling beautiful is a rare occurence.  I have bruises on my stomach and hips from my injections, I have gained weight (a fabulous side effect of many medications) and no amount of concealer can masquerade the dark circles under my eyes. 

But, thankfully this post gave me pause to reflect on the moments I feel beautiful.  When one of my boys strokes my face as I’m reading a story, the way my husband looks at me like I’m the only woman in the room, when my grandmother compliments my complexion, those are the moments I feel beautiful.  And I feel beautiful when I feel strong, when I make it through a difficult day or procedure, when I push through pain and fatigue to be the mama, wife and friend I am called to be.

Most importantly, all I have to do is look at myself through my Heavenly Father’s eyes.  He sees no faults, no fat, just my motives and my heart.  Thankfully, those things are far more beautiful than the package they come in.

If you are going to BlogHer, be sure to stop by Our Ordinary Life and tell them what makes you ageless for a chance to win money towards your trip.

Now, just when my hubby is asking how in the H-E-double hockey sticks I am going to pay my way I find a sponsorship contest by Everything Mom.  In the interest of full disclosure (a big deal in the blogosphere recently)I had never visited the Everything Mom site before hearing about this contest on Twitter.  However, I am thinking this works in my favor.  Their goal with this contest is to spread the word about their site and the details of their Sharing Revenue Program with moms. 

Speaking of the Sharing Revenue Program (go CHECK it out!!) that helps blogging mama’s, such as myself, make a little extra spending money to support our blogging habit pad our pockets- I would love the chance to share the opportunity with the gals I meet at BlogHer (did I mention I got a ticket and I’m going yet? squee!)  How would I do this you ask?  Well, by blogging and vlogging my little heart out on behalf of Everything Mom, for starters.  In addition, putting my marketing background to good use (hey, I am not above shameless self promotion at this point) I would develop creative and fun ways to let mom bloggers know about the money making opportunities that await them at Everything Mom.  Off the cuff,  I am thinking business “cards” that look like money with the Sharing Revenue Program details on the back.  In addition, I would be willing to wear (and make if need be) Everything Mom on my head (a hat that is), chest (a shirt that is), and anything else they would ask of me.  Suffice it to say, Everything Mom would be very well represented!

Now, as for what I hope to get out of attending the BlogHer conference itself (other than meeting other fantabulous bloggers, learning more about the ins and outs of blogging through the break out sessions, making connections with companies and brands and enhancing my online presence) I would really like to show my hubby that blogging is not just my hobby. It is a relevant, modern mode of communication with the outside world that has proven to be a lifeline for me since I started blogging a little over a year ago.

So, go check out Everything Mom and say a little prayer that I have the honor of representing them at BlogHer next month.

I am in the top 10 contest on The Mom Entrepreneur, based on my adorable slogan jingle that you can read via the link. Anyway, I am competitive and I want to win (I am in the lead right now so, if you have time would you mosy on over here and put my name (Melissa Smallwood) or company name (Organized Life by Design) in the comments…much appreciated!

Thanks and I love you back!