http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog en angela@afcoaches.com Copyright 2012 2012-05-16T00:50:15+00:00 http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/what_makes_mothers_day_happy_validation http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/what_makes_mothers_day_happy_validation#When:00:50:15Z I was watching Meet The Press Sunday morning before we went to church, and at the end of the program the host delivered a wonderful commentary on how much his mother meant to him over a lifetime and even though she had been gone for many years, he thought of her--daily. His final statement was that motherhood is the most important job anyone can have. And I agree. Whether you're a young mom, mid-age or a grandmother--there is nothing that compares to motherhood. And when your family takes time to say thank you and validate the work that you do that nobody else sees, the tears we wipe when one is hurting, the courage we give to keep our loved ones going, when someone rises up and validates this God given, incredible role--yes--that makes every mother very very happy! Validation is an arrow which pierces the heart and opens us up to loving more! My Mother's Day? From before I got out of bed Sunday morning until I got out of bed this morning--I have been treated with such respect and love. Breakfast in bed, a dozen roses, a beautiful card and gift...and that was all from Gary. A beautiful lunch out with our one of our daughters, son-in-law and the rest of their family, and my mom and dad celebrating 72 years of marriage. Yes, it was the perfect day. In the afternoon we watched The Notebook for the second time and cried about true love, experiencing a lasting love which begins in this lifetime and and is timeless in capacity and beyond. Love. Every mother just needs a little more love and attention on Mother's Day to be reminded that she really is doing a great job! Sending joy your way, Barb 2012-05-16T00:50:15+00:00 http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/date_night http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/date_night#When:15:47:30Z DATE NIGHT with Gary and...MASON! I'm often asked, "What do you and Gary do for date nights?" This week our 10 year old grandson just happened to suggest we take him to this really cool yogurt place called Orange Leaf. Not only was the yogurt AWESOME, it was low in calories and carbs AND the company was MAGNIFICENT because Mason ended up going on a date--- with us! He laughed at the thought of it and brought it up three times before we got to the car after eating yogurt! "I'm really on a date with you guys?" Honestly, his face was lit from the laughter from going on a date with Gary and me! So this week I got another question about our date nights, "Where do I buy date night clothes?" Love the question! I buy mostly casual/cute clothes you can dress up or down with jewelry--totally into the "it" pants: JEANS! Yes, designer pants right out of TJ MAXX! And if you ask me favorite everything else? Totally White House | Black Market's sale rack. No kidding! Tonight I'm wearing the coolest White House | Black Market 3/4 length top with leggings that I got on SALE when we were in Asheville, NC. Did I mention they were 50% off, and I used a gift card that I saved up from Christmas?! Clothes are the best when we get the DEALS! Tonight we're going to dinner and a movie thanks to some amazing friends who gifted Gary for his birthday. As we say at most of our conferences, "YAY!" Take some time to recharge this weekend! Sending my JOY!  Barb 2012-05-05T15:47:30+00:00 http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/gary_had_a_birthday_in_march http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/gary_had_a_birthday_in_march#When:13:45:30Z As many of you know I have been zipping back and forth between Iowa and Illinois. (I even got my first IPass this year to bypass the tollbooths to get to my daughter’s home faster!) In a nutshell, she has been battling a chronic neurological disease and the bottom line is: she needs her Mom! And I have been wildly blessed seeing my Chicago children and grandchildren a lot! So back in March when Gary turned 60 I handed him a card and said, “You’re going to have a birthday party—sometime before May!” I literally threw a party this past Saturday night on a wing and a prayer! No pun intended! What did I do? I reached back in my brain about forty years and remembered he was a ROCKSTAR in a garage band in Chicago. Did you ever listen to his albums? No, of course not—ha! There weren’t any! While he was playing in a rock band in his high school I was dancing in drill team in mine! So we started the party night with a FLASH MOB of friends who had rehearsed and broke into a secretly planned PARTY ROCKERS SHUFFLE to begin the night! WHOA WAS HE SURPRISED! But he got into it instantly! Here's a clip of the fun! I think we’d all agree that everybody had a BLAST! Enjoy our photos (see more on our facebook page) as some friends brought original 60’s and 70’s clothes for the photo shoot with our own ROCKSTAR for the night! I think a wing and a prayer parties are THE BEST! Joyfully celebrating, Barb   Gary blows out the candles on his guitar shaped birthday cake surrounded by our grandkids! The group performs their flash mob dance for Gary! Our family. 2012-04-28T13:45:30+00:00 http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/how_can_we_make_sure_we_finish_well http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/how_can_we_make_sure_we_finish_well#When:22:09:27Z “If we’re going to finish well, we need to pace ourselves so we have got to take the time to retreat!” - James McDonald Those words were music to my soul. I’ve been gunning it in my life lately as I zip to my daughter’s house in Illinois. It’s been months of back and forth between her place and my home in Iowa…a lot. I’ve been trying to keep up with family, ministry, and speaking and although I remain joyful in Christ…I get tired. So you may be wondering: What does Barb listen to while she’s on the road during the 5 hours it takes to get from her garage to her daughter’s front porch? My answer is easy; I listen to my favorite messages from loads of fabulous leaders and teachers across the USA. But one stands out…Pastor James McDonald. I always go to theOnePlace.com app on my iPhone and plug a wire in to listen through my car speakers. (Gary will crack up when he reads that statement! Ha!) So yesterday James McDonald spoke of the need for recovery for ALL OF US and he aptly spoke of how Jesus, yes Jesus, retreated and went to the mountain for prayer. It is in pulling away from the noise that we renew, restore, and regroup. As I listened to his message I sat in a chair without hardly moving for the whole day. I was physically and emotionally weary and I can’t remember ever doing that; sitting in a chair all day long! My batteries needed a charging and ultimately it was good. Gary didn’t get much of a dinner last night but he had a much more joyful wife TODAY because I did what Jesus did. I got away… Thanking the Lord for his example to retreat, retreat, retreat. Singing a new song today, Barb 2012-04-26T22:09:27+00:00 http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/im_hanging_on_to_peace_in_my_life._how_about_you http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/im_hanging_on_to_peace_in_my_life._how_about_you#When:13:08:15Z We have a lot of "life" going on right now. I'm hanging on tightly to the Lord and His sustaining spirit of peace. When I'm practicing this peace, everything goes so much better and is much more calm! Here are some of the encouragements I have received lately to continue to experience the peace of God. I pray they minister to you too.     A dear friend encouraged me with this quote: "God does not tell us to deny reality...He just instructs us to supersede reality with truth."     My brother reminded me about this verse (Phil. 4:8) "Fix your eyes on what is true and admirable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."     This morning I listened to Chuck Swindoll referring to the same passage in his teaching. (I went to Oneplace.com to hear "Insight for Living.")     But one of the most impressive sources of reading for me is in a 110-page booklet called "Searching for and Maintaining Peace" by Father Jacques Philippe.  Wow, wow, wow! I have my highlighter out and I'm underlining almost every page! GREAT STUFF! If you're going through a time of anxiety and suffering then join me and together let's grab all the gusto of the peace that JESUS gives. When we are full of a peaceful spirit God can do so much more in us and through us. I'm going to enjoy life today! How about you? Barb 2012-04-13T13:08:15+00:00 http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/our_easter http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/our_easter#When:13:11:00Z What does a stopped toilet, extreme laughter, genuine praise and worship and one grandson (who will remain nameless) begging to leave a church service have to do with Easter? Is it a Griswold Family Easter? No, the Rosberg's showed up at their daughter's in Chicago over the weekend! Our Easter was truly AMAZING despite some funny and crazy things that happened! I can tell you that it was the best Easter we have ever had! Why? Well, let me break it down so you'll understand the beauty of this past weekend for us as a family.  We went to our youngest daughter's home in Chicago, Illinois and spent the weekend together as an entire family. As you know our faith is extremely important to us, as it is to our kids. Our daughter's church really focuses on the resurrection of Jesus Christ all year as all of ours do - but the difference for us was that for Holy Week they have daily worship leading up to Easter.  Friday night we arrived there in time for the most amazing time of confession, praise and worship.  I loved it but we're just like every other family - at one point one of my grandsons turned to me and begged me to take him home! Saturday night the entire church celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ by singing, drama, laughter and praise and enormous excitement that Jesus Christ has risen! Our granddaughter danced across the stage as a beautiful flower and our entire family applauded her as she looked adoringly into each one of our faces planted in the second row.   Sunday morning we worshiped again as a family and took communion followed by going out to lunch and home to the laughter from one toilet being plugged up by a contact lens case! Our son-in-law unscrewed the toilet from the floor and carried it in the front lawn and found that contact case - for the sake of saving $150!! Ha! You should have seen the faces of the neighbors when they drove by.  Talk about the scuttle that "the in-laws are in town!" We laughed at ourselves, shared and experienced real love all weekend and I think it's because we not only planned everything around the resurrection celebration of Christ, but loved one another deeply from restored hearts.  It was honestly so beautiful! Sending my heart full of joy. Barb 2012-04-11T13:11:00+00:00 http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/his_refinement_in_my_life http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/his_refinement_in_my_life#When:20:23:16Z My daughter is very sick, and I am so tuned into how virtually everybody is carrying a burden, either known or unknown to others around them. I feel extreme compassion for women who've  shared with me the pain and heartbreak they are carrying for their children and beyond. We are all the same, and in this community of being surrendered to Christ we know one thing: there is no way through pain without God's perspective. Today I was reading Luke 9:23: "If any of you want to be my followers you must put aside your selfish ambitions, shoulder your cross daily and follow me. If you keep your life to yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life," Adversity has a way of refining us into the image of God, doesn't it? Just as an athlete keeps his eye on the ball I've got to keep my eyes fixed exclusively on Jesus. My daughter will come through this as she is surrounded by LOVE, but I too will come through in my role of LOVING HER because CHRIST JESUS is renewing my heart throughout this battle. Love to you all. Barb 2012-04-01T20:23:16+00:00 http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/the_great_marriage_experience_event_at_church_of_the_king http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/the_great_marriage_experience_event_at_church_of_the_king#When:02:04:36Z Barb and I and Kim (Director of Operations) returned on Sunday from a tremendous time at Church of the King in Mandeville, Louisiana outside of New Orleans. And what a time it was! This is a church of about 5,000 at four campuses pastored by Steve Robinson. We have been cueing up for this event for a couple of years and saw God work mightily in the teachable gathering of over 500 on Friday night and even more on Saturday morning. We did five sessions on The Great Marriage Experience zeroing in on celebrating love, one of the 6 Secrets to a Lasting Love. One highlight for me on our trip was the very first person I spoke with when we landed in New Orleans. His name was William, and he worked at the Budget rental car counter. He graciously asked what we were doing in New Orleans, and I shared that we were doing a marriage conference. He automatically replied, “I am going to call my wife and see if we can join you…she doesn’t get off work until 7 but I think we may see you tonight!” Sure enough, they walked in during the first session and we connected after the evening was over. What a blast! Pastor Steve and his bride, Jennifer sat in the front row the entire event reflecting to their congregation their own teachable hearts. Pastor Doug and Michelle, and several other pastors and spouses, were with us the entire weekend. The hospitality was over the top, the response was gracious and encouraging and I really believe some marriages were deeply encouraged. We also had the joy of meeting Emily and Rob Smith. They lead military marriages, and Rob is retiring from the Marines soon. We shared some of our resources for military marriages and are looking forward to following up and resourcing this great military marriage movement that they lead. Couple upon couple shared how God spoke into their marriages and encouraged them! At the end of the event we welcomed the pastoral staff on the platform with their brides and prayed over them “turning the shepherd’s staff” back to them as we prepared to leave and they loved on their marriages. We look forward to returning when their new sanctuary is finished. Pastor Doug took me on a “walk through” through this incredible new facility under construction! God is at work at this church. Please know you now have friends in Iowa that are cheering you on! Guard your hearts, Gary and Barb See more photos from the event here: http://on.fb.me/zs6B0a. 2012-03-15T02:04:36+00:00 http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/a_mothers_holy_hands http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/a_mothers_holy_hands#When:23:59:44Z She’s a neighbor who prays during her predawn run because in her words “this is the time when I feel closest to God.” Today she wrote me a note: From a mother to a mother. There is a song by Christopher Beatty called Holy Ground. In the second verse it says, These are holy hands. He’s given us holy hands. He works through these hands and so these hands are holy. She continues, “I truly believe that a mother’s hands are holy. I have witnessed the healing effect a mother’s touch has on her child both emotionally and physically —many times in my practice. Blood pressure decreases, heart rate decreases and respirations become less labored. Your gift to your daughter is your mere presence and the touch of your hands. It is God’s gift to us as mothers.” Within seconds I received a text message from a friend miles away in Houston: “You are His hands to those babies.” Both of these women were referring to the past few months as I have been helping my daughters, especially our youngest daughter who is chronically ill. These two women have both connected to and encouraged me. Wow. There’s another woman who has reached out and used her holy hands to write our daughter by sending her the book Dear Jesus by Sarah Young. She leads a group of women that pray monthly for their children and grandchildren—she is changing the lives of the next generation through her prayers, and I am so thankful that she prays for me and mine! This mom has an adult daughter who is bedridden and pregnant with twins. Will you lift up and pray for her daughter too? I am changing from my daughter’s illness. I want my hands to serve my adult daughters by staying present and serving them in a holy way—always. I also want to be changed into a woman who is always mindful of others who are weary, weak and hurting, and like these women who have holy hands…do something about it! Tuck the words from Holy Ground into your heart and let them change you too: These are holy hands. He’s given us holy hands. He works through these hands and so these hands are holy. How has God used his holy hands in your life? Share in the comments below! Spreading His joy, Barb 2012-03-06T23:59:44+00:00 http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/a_sacred_place http://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/a_sacred_place#When:03:15:28Z Back during my Drake University college days I read the book Hope for the Flowers, and it was about a funny little worm that goes through a strange metamorphosis and ultimately become transformed into a beautiful butterfly. Nevertheless, years later like that worm I am experiencing a strange set of circumstances leading me to my own personal metamorphosis. My daughter is sick. Very sick, chronically ill and just as she hurts I am deeply hurting alongside of her.  There’s a lot going on—which is pushing and pressing me deeper and deeper into the Word for my strength for the moment to push through and persevere. While I pray continually for the Lord to heal my child, I am savoring this fresh intimacy with our Savior. I don’t want to move away from him, as his presence is so near. A friend of ours is suffering from cancer, and we agree there’s something very beautiful in “this place,” a place of calm and peace from trusting in Jesus Christ. My faith is dramatically different as it’s like seeing a multitude of rich hues in the color spectrum simply from experiencing the Lord’s continual closeness.  Would you like to experience this closeness too? Stay close to your pain. Typically when any of us get a little distance from our pain as life becomes normal again that distinctive presence of peace and clarity from the Lord begins to subtly diminish. And the beautiful spectrum of color is again replaced with monotonous grays, blacks and whites of “normal life.” I want to cling to Christ. Do you? There’s something so sacred about this strange transformation brought about by pain and suffering for my daughter. Some say that staying close to your pain is like breaking a wild horse, and the safest place is staying close to the horse and that’s how it is with pain. I do know that this is a divine metamorphosis, and through it God is changing me by reproducing his image in me—it’s not an easy place but it’s good and I will never be quite the same again. Can I share what I am learning? My hope is in Him alone. I am content with living in today and don’t need to know the outcome of tomorrow. Let the Lord present you with his gift of today. Today is enough and it’s to be treasured. Sending his joy to you, Barb 2012-03-02T03:15:28+00:00