Lisa Whelchel - Creative Correction

SteveGod knew me better than I knew myself when He chose you for me. You are everything I wanted, more than I will ever need, and exactly what I desire.

Tucker, Haven, and ClancyNothing I have ever done or will do in this lifetime compares with the privilege of being your mommy. Thank you for the joy of watching you grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men (Luke 2:52).

My motherThis is my opportunity to arise and call you blessed (Proverbs 31:28). Thank you for keeping, teaching, and adoring my kids while I wrote this book. I want to be a grandmother just like you when I grow up.

RoyThank you for allowing my mom to be a full-time grandmother. I am grateful for your sacrificial love as a grandfather and a stepfather.

My fatherYou worked hard to provide me with every opportunity for my dreams to come true. Thank you for fond childhood memories.

Pastor Jack HayfordI am teaching my children what you taught me. Thank you.

Focus on the FamilyThank you for allowing me to partner with you in your ministry and for trusting me with your constituents.

Mark MaddoxYou have been a caring touch-point in this delicate balance of business and ministry.

Larry WeedenThank you for teaching me to write more from the left side of my brain.

Betsy HoltI may have baked the cake, but you are responsible for the icingand thats my favorite part. Thank you.

Doug Knox and all the staff at Tyndale HouseIt feels like family already.

Gladys Marie BrownThank you for coming to my rescue.

Susan MunaoThank you for your godly example of a Christian businesswoman and for the phone calls that made this all happen.

Bill JensenThank you for believing in me and my big ideas from the beginning.

Ron Smith and Smith Music and ManagementIts easy to dream big when you have such great people supporting you.

Morris Proctor and Scott LindseyThank you for providing me with the Logos Library Bible Software System. Otherwise, I would still be working on this book.

Cyber prayer partners and faithful friendsRobin Aveni, Curt and Alice Cauble, Tim and Cindy Cauble, Mick and Janice Clark, Shawn Craig, Janet Decker, Deb Goldstone, Shirley Grose (for the Pinetop experience), Mari Hanes, Valerie Johnson, Sherilyn Jones, Fred and Anastatia Jove, Bill and Jeanie Lero (for the dinners), Debby Lillenberg, Tom and Denise McDonald, Myrene Morris (for the Gazebo times), Terri Mullen, Kevin Odean (for the letter), Andrea Rodriguez, Debby Riekeberg, Connie Scheffler (you should start a catering business), Sallie Schnee, Lynn Vakay, and Gloria Wilson. Thank you.

I sincerely hope that you have found at least one or two ideas in this book that youll be able to use. I hope you have gained confidence in your own instincts and ability to hear some of Gods creative suggestions for raising your child.

As you come up with creative correction ideas, stories, or object lessons, would you consider submitting them to me at my Web site, www.LisaWhelchel.com? Ill continue to collect these ideas to offer in further revisions of this book. You will not only be helping me, but more importantly, other parents who are also struggling to find fresh and effective ways to train their children.

If youre interested in continuing to build a virtual friendshipone that I hope has already begun with this bookyoure welcome to join me online once a week for Coffee Talk. Every Monday morning, I post a journal entry, along with personal family photos, recounting some of the things Im experiencing and learning as my children continue to grow through new seasons of life. Or you can simply sign up for my e-letter and Ill send you a monthly e-mail with a personal story, a parenting tip, and a list of cities where Ill be speaking.

I would love a chance to meet you in person someday. But until then, may God bless you richly as you raise your children.

I received an e-mail from the editor of a magazine for which I had recently been interviewed. The note read: Lisa, Im reviewing the article and looking at everything you do, and I wonder at one quote. You say, Moms must be careful not to attempt to do it all; you have to be willing to let a few things slide. May I ask, what on earth do you let slide?

I e-mailed the following response:

Dear Susan,

There are lots of things that slide. Im embarrassed at the things that get pushed to the bottom of the priority list. Let me name a few:

Healthy mealstonight the kids had cereal for dinner.

The last time I did any spring cleaning was the spring of aught 5.

I desperately need to exercise, but I figure I log in at least 20 minutes a day on the Stairmaster, hauling laundry up to and down from the bedrooms.

I promised my daughter a year ago that I would teach her to sew.

Ive made the same New Years resolution three years in a rowto have each of our neighbors over for dinner.

My latest obsession is scrapbooking, but Im still cropping pictures of my kids from when they were in diapers.

I come from a long line of readers and yet even my magazines stack up by the bed, untouched (though they do make an attractive nightstand).

Thankfully, Im not much of a shopper, so I dont lose time there; but then again, my wardrobe reflects that.

Wouldnt it be nice if I answered all those wonderful letters people send me?

My husband would be in heaven if I did my nails every week, but at this point hes going to have to wait until Jesus comes.

When I suggest, Lets make some homemade cookies, we dont head for the mixer, we reach for the freezer and the sharpest slice and bake knife thats not in the dishwasher.

I really mean to write to my senators.

At the onset of Y2K, I embarked on a Read through the Bible in a Decade program. My goal is to reach the book of Habakkuk before my last child enters high school.

AFTER THE FACTS

Sound like anyone at your house? A lot has changed since my days playing Blair on The Facts of Life. Shortly after the birth of my third baby, an actress friend remarked to me, After having worked for so many years, it must be nice to be able to relax and not work for a while. I had three children in diapers at the time, and I was tempted to slap her with a wet wipe. Yeah, Im leading a really Pamper-ed lifestyle these days.

Of course, I wouldnt trade it for all the money in Hollywood. I love my life! I will always be grateful for the fun I had while I was on television, but it cant compare with the joy Im experiencing now.

I dont remember ever making a conscious decision to quit show business and become a stay-at-home mom. In fact, Id always assumed I would continue working even after I had children. But for some reason, I never got another job I auditioned for. Go figure! It might have had something to do with the fact that I was married during the last season of the show; then, for the first five years of my marriage, I was either pregnant, nursing, or trying to lose baby fat. By the time I was back in fighting shape, I had three adorable preschoolers below the beltand that is where it would hit me if I had to leave them every day.