Lisa Whelchel - Taking Care of the Me in Mommy: Becoming a Better Mom: Spirit, Body and Soul

I realized that if I make time to nourish myself, I have more energy to praise God, play with my children and still have love left over for my husband at the end of the day. The dishes and laundry were miraculously done too! Wendy

A MUST HAVE for moms everywhere! Lisa speaks from experience and relates to you both as a friend and a mentor.Lisa J.

If I had ten thumbstheyd all be up! There is so much insight and practical ideas inside this book one can read it over and over again and find new ideas every time. Just when I thought it couldnt be done, youve shown me how to get more time out of my hectic days.Kelly

Lisa helps tired, burned-out mommies to find easy and fun ways to take care of ourselves so that we can come back to our families refreshed and ready to love them the way God wants us to.Lesley

I love the humor. It feels like I am getting advice from an old friend who really knows me! I cant believe how easily I am finding more time to spend with God and at the same time, improving the care I am giving to my family. Bethany

I appreciate bite sized pieces. I love being able to choose and implement one or two ideas at a time.Cindy

Packed with a loaded picnic basket of tips and ideas to help overworked, overstressed, and overtired mothers.Amey

The me in mommy was exhausted and now I feel recharged!Joi

The Rest Stops are pure treasure. These are simple ideas that can fit into a busy day. That is what all of those other books are missing.Hollie

My whole family thanks you!Jamie

After reading this book and implementing a few of the suggestions, I feel like I fell in love with my family and being a mom all over again!Michelle

I feel you have taught me how to put the fuel back in my mommy tank. Danielle

I think that so many mothers believe that being martyr mom will some-how benefit their family, but for me it has proven to be fruitless and frustrating. Thank you so very much for listening to the voice of God to help the moms who care for His little ones.Evin

I am finally taking the time to nourish my spirit and in doing so, its not only blessed me, but my family as well.Holly

Its amazing how a few minor adjustments on running a home can save you so much time!Wade

I plan to read it often and use the Rest Stops until my children are in college!Sondra

Thanks to Lisas practical tips on prayer, I have been able to expand my prayer time throughout the day!Candace

I have realized that I do not need to be perfect to be happy. I have also been reminded how true it is that having our Heavenly Father as #1 in our lives makes all the difference.Ivonne

It is amazingly freeing to finally have permission to take care of myself. There is more to motherhood than raising my children. I must also take care of myself and my relationship with Christ.Rachelle

This book is filled with tips that even our tight budget can work with. I am feeling more energized and ready to make some positive changes, for ME and ultimately for my family that I love dearly!Shirley

As a busy mom, I dont even have time to think of ways to make my life easier. With the Rest Stops, half the work is done for me. I truly believe this is more than just a helpful bookits life-changing.Lisa R.

By learning to rest and receive, meal times are more enjoyable, playtime is more frequent and family time is a true blessing.Danielle

I have been so overwhelmed lately that I am at the point of tears daily. I am cranky with my children and husband and feel tremendous guilt that I cant do everything I expect myself to do. This book not only lets me know I am not alone, but that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that I can enjoy being a mommy again.Star

All of the scripture, personal reflections and Rest Stops Lisa gives are the ingredients that I will add each day so my family can enjoy a healthy, hearty serving of mommy.Lisa S.

Lisa spelled out for me what I was desperately trying to figure out myselfme time!!!Amy

We cant give away what we dont have. Lisa helped me to have an over-flowing tank so that I may have so much more to give to my family than I ever thought possible. Just by implementing a couple of these simple strategies, my life seems so much more organized, simpler, and more balanced. Not only do I now have ways of taking care of me, but Im now able to give more to my family as a result! What an awesome feeling!Kathy

2006 by Lisa Whelchel

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Thomas Nelson, Inc. books may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Other Scripture quotations are taken from the following sources: The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. The New King James Version (NKJV). 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT). 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. The New Century Version (NCV). 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. American Standard Version (ASV). Public domain.

Cover Design: Brand Navigation, www.brandnavigation.com

Interior Design: Inside Out Design & Typesetting

ISBN-13: 978-1-59145-435-9 (hc)

ISBN 10: 1-59145-435-2 (hc)

ISBN-13: 978-0-7852-8929-6 (tp)

ISBN 10: 0-7852-8929-1 (tp)

Printed in the United States of America

07 08 09 10 11 RRD 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

I happily dedicate this book to
The Good Medicine Club
Andrea, Connie, Deb, Denise, Sallie, Shawn, and Valerie
We learned how to be mommies together and
you, my lifelong friends, will forever be
The Original MomTime Group!

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down, his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
Ecclesiastes 4:910 NIV

Contents

Freely you have received, freely give.
Matthew 10:8 NKJV

I have received far more than I could ever give. My life, and this book, are better because of the people named here and their willingness to share their gifts with me so that I could pass them on to you.

Steve, Tucker, Haven, and ClancyThank you for not caring whether Im an actress, author, butcher, baker, or candlestick maker. For loving me whether Im frumpy, grumpy, together, or losin it. To you, Im simply Mom (and wife.) If that is enough for you, then it is enough for me. I love you.

Integrity Publishers and Laura MinchewThank you for your patience when I have taken care of the me in this mommy when I should have been writing. I am thrilled for the opportunity to partner with a publisher with such impeccable integrity and reputation. It is an honor.