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Influence

Click here for your worksheet on Influence.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
Love, Skip, Jump – Shelene Bryan
Clout – Jenni Catron
The Influence Network

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  • MOMMAS, WHAT ARE YOUR AFTERNOONS LIKE?
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Are they peace-filled with a bowl full of cherries on the porch? Are they laced with tantrum after tantrum that sends you running for the bathroom?
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I’ll be the first to admit afternoons of yelling that I’ve felt like I can’t come back from. Moments, where I chalk the day up for a loss and vow tomorrow, will be better.
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One thing God has been so faithful in teaching me is the power we have to redeem moments.
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I wrote a 9-day challenge called Redeeming the Afternoon Slump for every mom who wants to ENJOY the afternoon, even if you do find yourself dealing with a tantrum or two.
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In the challenge, you’ll get 9 words loosely based on the fruit of the spirit and practical advice to help you enjoy your afternoons without ditching your kids. It will include a prayer for the day and Scripture too.
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God has called us redeemed. I for one believe that includes our afternoons.
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Are you in momma? Invite your favorite mom friend to join you and tag them below. Then head to the link in my profile to start redeeming the afternoons! Or the Mom Talk highlight and just swipe up!
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#grumpymomhack #motherhoodissanctifying #valdoesmotherhood
  • THE SEASON OF MARRIAGE WE’RE IN (IT’S VAL AND TY’S DAY! 🤣)
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Last month we took our first trip (like more than a weekend in New Orleans) since the girls have been born. And I’ll tell ya what, it wasn’t HOURS of endless conversation I expected.
• Tyler gets motion sickness on planes and sleeps from lift off to landing.
• I’m getting used to the whole chauffeuring around by an Uber driver and am not super chatty.
• We has a delicious ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Michelin star restaurant experience that meant servers served so much we should have pulled them up a chair.
• And then there was the walking in snow, face covered to keep from freezing 🥶 not conducive to chatting.
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But you know what?? We had the best time.
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They say with kids emotions are cranked to 11. Really high highs and really low lows.
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After 8 years of marriage, we don’t have the high highs of first dates, getting engaged or our wedding day but we also don’t have the low lows of fights that last hours.
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Here’s what we got.
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We survived -20 without getting snippy with each other, navigated an airport with a short layover, managed to get through TSA during a gov shutdown 😬, picked restaurants that pleased a gourmand and meat and potatoes gal and shopped without arguing about money.
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It’s not a helicopter ride, slow dancing while some famous old band plays with a rose given at the end but I’m so grateful for this season. And I don’t think I admit that enough!
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I’d climb a mountain and descend in a valley with you, but I’ll also walk the not-so-glamorous flatlands with you too @tylerwoerner. 😘
  • "GIVE BOTH" - GOD
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At the end of 2018, I felt the urge to bump our giving up for VMP to 15% of sales instead of 10%. It was just a little stirring. I even wrote it in my Powersheets (from @CultivateWhatMatters!) as a goal by the end of 2019.
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January comes and the Lord speaks so clearly, tithe 15%. And then January 28 He speaks again. I was literally writing out my prayers and felt Him speak to me in between sentences. Here's the conversation!
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This right here is why I'm passionate about prayer!! OK one of many reasons, but holy smokes! When I'm in consistent communication with God, He speaks into the things I'm wondering about. It's not always THIS clear but God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
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What question is on your heart today? Have you brought it before God? I mean have you REALLY brought it before God? Does He know you are ready to obey? I talked about this in the course but God doesn't give second opinions. He gives direction. Are you ready to follow?
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If you read my prayer you'll see I've also felt Him call me to tithe my time. That's looked like the first 10 minutes of each work day and one full work day a month! That might sound like overkill to lots but He knew I needed to learn how to trust Him with my time and He has gone to work the last few weeks as I've implemented this. My schedule is busier than ever so it'd be easy to cut that 10 minutes before I even start the habit but it's been so fruitful. Not in multiplied work in the time I have but in a peace I cannot explain.
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That went a million different places. Here's the cliff notes:
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1. God doesn't give second opinions. He gives direction.
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2. We're bumping up our tithe to 15% after hearing God speak to me clearly about it. (This isn't something I'm assuming everyone should do.) Stay tuned for details of where the extra 5% is going!
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3. Want to learn more about hearing from God? It's our biggest module of the prayer course because it's that important! Link in profile!
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#vmpprayer
  • IF...
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This introvert talked and listened for two days and I’m feeling oddly refreshed. See all the convos in stories!
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What an absolute blessing to get to:
1. Talk to our biggest cheerleaders and so many people impacted in big ways by our products 
2. Talk to knew friends and hear why they need our product and are excited to find it. 
3. Meet people I’ve respected through a screen and get to see they are just as genuine and real in person.
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Thankful for this team!!
@kara.eliza @maddwoe @nataliemetlewis
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And thankful for the @ifgathering team!!! 😘😘😘 #ifgathering2019
  • JOIN THE LAUNCH TEAM!
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I am so excited to finally announce the upcoming launch of our launch team for Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday!!
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I've been praying a lot about this group knowing this is where I'll dedicate a lot of my time as we prepare for the book release. If y'all know me, you know we're gonna do things a little differently and I cannot wait to serve our launch team members as y'all not only help get the word out about the book.
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Pre-ordering the book is a requirement (because what could make a launch team greater than a bunch of women who genuinely wholeheartedly want to be there) but you can bet that I made sure what we deliver is more than worth the cost of the book!
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Want to apply? Click the link in my profile and tag your favorite momma bloggers, book reviewers or mommas who just like to share what they are learning! ;)
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And leave a comment if you apply! I get to be a part of the choosing process and would love to have some familar faces (AKA insta names! ; ).
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#grumpymomtakesaholiday
  • RIGHT PAST FEAR
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Some of you know my story with planes and my overwhelming fear of them the last 20 years. After suffering an eardrum that bursts on a plane in 8th grade, I was terrified to get back on. And so I didn't for 18 years.
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I knew I didn't want to live the rest of my life unable to fly so I tried to figure it out. I found out a friend's dad had his own plane and could take me up to "test out my ears". It's one of those experiences you see God so obviously as he opens doors. I mean, a friend's dad has a plane and is not only willing but patient and excited to help me overcome my fear?
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I've flown once since that test flight and it was amazing, right after the 30 fearful minutes actually having to get on the plane 😬. So Tyler and I booked a trip to Chicago and the days leading up had my nerves in knots. Snowstorms, 900 canceled flights the day before? Skidding planes at the same airport days before? And an unfailing memory of my mom's mom who died in a plane crash when my mom was only 3. The enemy latched on to this memory as I pictured my own sweet girls, almost 3 and 5 losing their mom. Fear is merciless.
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On our first of 4 flights, as I tried to calm my fears, I felt the Lord so clearly tell me "Do you really think I arranged for a private flight and ordained circumstances so you could die today in a plane? No, Valerie, I have places I want you to go and things I want you to do."
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I can't explain the peace that came with that and I have no idea what my future holds but I want you to know that God is talking to us IN THE MIDST OF OUR FEARS. And we have got to start seeking Him in it. For Scripture to do its work and bring us peace, we can't put our hope in Scripture alone. We have to put our hope in the God who breathed Scripture. It's not the words we say but the faith we have that destroys fear. Isaiah 41:10a says "Fear not, for I am with you". Do we believe it?
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Leave a comment with your name if I can pray this for you today!
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#vmppeaceandjoy
  • I wasn’t sure about this book at first...
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If you’ve been following my stories, you know Tyler and I are in Chicago and got to surprise my publishers with a visit. Seriously, so fun!!
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But they had a surprise for me too! The final version of Fresh Start for Moms. And y’all it’s soooo beautiful!
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1. When we agreed on a second little product with Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday, I wasn’t sure what this would be. But the feedback we’ve gotten has been so encouraging. This is not just a side product but going to be a game-changer for mommas ready to start each day excited and prepared for a day ahead.
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2. When we finalized the design, I wasn’t sure I’d love it. It’s hard to know from a screen the potential of what someone will hold in their hand, grab for their morning time, dive into in closet somewhere for a much-needed pep talk. The colors are perfection and the hard cover, end sheets, foil, thickened, I just literally cannot wait for y’all to get them in your hands. 😍
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TAG your momma friends and then head to stories if you want to see what’s included in each day’s devotion. Y’all know I like some good prompts and structure. 😁
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#freshstartformoms
  • WELCOME TO TWO 1’s, A 7 AND AN 8
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Ok so their number could totally change or I may have guessed wrong but I’m seeing them so differently now that I’ve figured out what I think is their Enneagram type.
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It’s an amazing reminder to read between the lines, hear what they aren’t saying and don’t just use some blanket technique for all. Obviously there are so things that are black and white in parenting. I will teach all my kids that stealing is bad and sharing is good. But one of my kids needs to hear more often that we love her no matter how much she screws up and honestly hope she won’t take failing so hard. The other needs to know that trying and following the rules isn’t as uncool as she things it is. 🤣
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In Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday I talk about becoming a student of our kids. This enneagram tool has been a fun tool to do that!
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Can you guess who is who? 
#enneagramtalk
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Holiday photo that didn’t make it onto a card by @catherineguidry
  • MY JANUARY READS
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I’m not too far along in either since every waking moment this month has been spent working on the course but I’m excited to dive into these now that the content is finally out there.
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READ THE UNHURRIED LIFE IF ... your ready for a slower pace, not necessarily in your schedule but in your soul. -
READ GOD AND MONEY IF ... you need some motivation keeping that 2019 financial goal top of mind. Finances are always something I don’t really make intentional time for.
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What are you currently reading?
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Check out #valandwords if you need some book inspiration.

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Since 2015, every purchase you’ve made has contributed to over $75,000 we’ve been fortunate to donate to charities! This year we will be feeding hot meals for the school year for kids in Haiti!

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