The Morning Thing Shares Prayers for Moms and Dads

We know that our kids can bring light into our life and make life enjoyable.
We also know that our kids can try our patience, and sometimes it can be a major struggle.
Marcy and Eric shared several prayers for both moms and dads to help them get through the day.
Click HERE for the prayers for moms by Amanda Idleman at Crosswalk.com
Click HERE for the 6 prayers for dads by Clarence Haynes, Jr. at the Bible Study Tools website.

(Image from Crosswalk.com)

Behavioral Health Care Partners of Central Ohio Preparing for a New Extension

Click HERE to Hear the Full Conversation!

Dr. Kate St. James talks about her role as President and CEO of Behavioral Health Care Partners of Central Ohio. She has been with the group for 8 years and she helps determine how they move forward with serving the community. She talks about the organization’s mission to improve and save lives of those who are experiencing challenges with mental health or addiction.

Kate talks about the organization wanting to build an 18,000 square foot extension within the next year with a $5.8 million dollar fundraising goal. She adds that they have already raised 80% of the goal. The Ariel Foundation has promised a matching gift up to $100,000. She talks about how someone can donate at bhcpartners.org

Make Sure to Plan Quality Time with Your Family

Which month tends to be the most hectic for you? Our schedules often become cluttered with enjoyable activities, responsibilities, and tasks we prefer to avoid. However, we should also consider whether we’re making time for what truly matters. It’s essential to consciously set aside time for family priorities; otherwise, it can easily disappear.

Here are a few things you should do by the end of 2025.

Take a family holiday:  A family holiday is a meaningful occasion set aside to celebrate the importance of family. Select a date that doesn’t overlap with any birthdays and add it to your family’s calendar. Research shows that a strong connection between parents and children can help decrease risky behaviors in teenagers, and a strong family identity plays a vital role in fostering a child’s self-esteem.

Date nights: Regardless of whether you plan for a date night once a month or once a week, if you don’t schedule them in your calendar, they are likely to be overlooked when life becomes hectic. Take some time this weekend to open your calendars and choose your date nights! Make a note of who will be in charge of planning each one.

Nothing: When is nothing not truly nothing? According to author Abby Watts of iMOM, when it contributes to balance. This is precisely what having white space in your calendar achieves. We aren’t designed to constantly push forward; taking a step back enables our bodies and minds to relax and rejuvenate.

Click HERE for the full article.

Would you like to be more creative? It’s not too late!

We honored International Creativity Month this morning on The Morning Thing. There is something about being creative that gives you a certain boost of confidence and it is never too late to become more creative in your lifestyle!

We shared some tips from Phil Cooke’s article How To Jumpstart Your Creativity. Phil says, “This is as good a time as any to take your creativity to the next level.”

Here are a few of our co-hosts favorite tips for becoming more creative:

  • Don’t be afraid to daydream
  • Stop working randomly
  • Value intuition and the power of hunches
  • Be open to new ideas
  • Be different

If you want to read more about these and check out the rest of the 10 then click HERE!

If you’d like to learn more about International Creativity Month click HERE!

The Morning Thing Talks about Ways to Celebrate Life!

It’s a new year, and many people think about resolutions like losing weight, getting healthier and improving finances.

However, January is Celebration of Life Month where you want to focus on the great things in life. On the Morning Thing, we talked about the ways you can pause, reflect, and become a better Christian and thus a better person in 2025!

Some of the topics covered included remembering who you, taking time to spend with your family and friends and laugh.

Remembering who are helps you re-focus on making sure to separate work with your life. Work is one way to pass the day, but you should leave work concerns at work.

You should also take time to spend with family and friends with a dinner and movie, just a simple lunch date to catch up or a weekend getaway.

You should laugh…..a lot! Tell a silly “dad” joke, watch your favorite sitcom or comedian.

BTW…One great comedian to check out is Tim Hawkins who is coming to MVNU on Saturday, March 22 for two great shows.

Click HERE for more information on Celebration of Life Month.

Click HERE for 50 simple ways to celebrate and enjoy life.

Are you tired? Here are some easy ways to jump-start your energy levels for the new year!

Heading back to school and work can be exhausting! That’s why we wanted to share some ways you can stay engaged and energized in 2025!

The Guardian found 31 effective ways to help boost your energy levels! There is a variety of tasks from what to drink in the morning to getting a musical boost!

Click HERE to check out the full list!

Here are some of our favorites that we shared on the show:

  • Bend like a banana
  • Ban the snooze button
  • Time your coffee right
  • Aim for less than 90 minutes a day on social media
  • Fill up on fibre
  • Try exercise snacking

Adopting even 1 or 2 of these tips can make your day better and brighter!

The Morning Thing Friday Favorites 1/3/25

January is National Soup Month. Today for our Friday Favorites, The Morning Thing hosts shared about their favorite soups.

Click HERE to hear from Shawn, Xander, Eric and Marcy.

Here is Eric’s Chili Recipe:
Ingredients

1 lbs burger/1lbs mild Italian sausage

2 cups of salsa

Bushs chili and beans

2 can pinto beans

2 can kidney beans

2 can black beans

1/2 tsp paprika

1 onion

1 cup water

1/4 cup chili powder

To garnish

Cheddar cheese

Sour cream 

Steps

  1. Brown beef and/or sausage
  2. Dice onion
  3. Add all ingredients except salsa to crockpot or large pot
  4. Cook on medium or medium high heat for a couple of hours
    1. Depends on how soft you want the beans
  5. 1 hour to half an hour before eating, add the salsa.
  6. Eat when you think its ready and enjoy!

Note: You can really eat whenever after the meat has been cooked because the other ingredients are not based on temperature to consume. 

You can also add any peppers or other ingredients you wish. 

Its YOUR chili, so have fun with it!

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