Guest Posts | Cumming Local | Things To Do in Cumming, GA & Forsyth County

The Croods Movie Review

March 23, 2013 By mandi Leave a Comment

The Croods Movie Review

Two weekends ago, my family had the opportunity to preview the brand new 20th Century Fox movie, The Croods. Going into it I had only seen one preview and I thought then that it looked pretty cute. The preview highlighted both a great message about a family working together and also had some good humor in it too.

I recalled it also being from the same people that brought us How to Train Your Dragon, which my kids LOVED so I was looking forward to this new adventure.

I’ll be completely honest (as always on this website) and say it started a little slow for me. But then again, I’m not its target audience! However it soon picked up and I was caught up in the family’s adventure!

The cave-man family (the Croods) is forced out of their cave when their home is destroyed. Together they are trying to reach a new land but come upon lots of obstacles. I really liked the idea of highlighting the family working together. A lot of movies are about a son or daughter finding their own way without the rest of the family. So I really appreciated this take.

Now don’t get me wrong – there is family strife! The pre-teen (or maybe teenage) daughter is very independent and out spoken. She has a plan and isn’t afraid to step outside of her parent’s boundaries. And the mother-in-law and son-in-law definitely have lots to argue about! But the point is, they’re traveling on this mission together. They all have to accept new ways of doing things and step outside their comfort zone.

The Dad is set up as kind of the “bad guy” in the whole thing, so of course my husband didn’t like those parts – ha!

But my kids – they loved it all! They thought the silly parts were hysterical and the cool parts were awesome! They’ve already asked when they can see it again – good thing it comes out to theaters this weekend!

So those are just my thoughts … I’d love to hear yours!

For another perspective, check out Common Sense Media.

More about The Croods:

The Croods is a 3D comedy adventure that follows the world’s first modern family as they embark on a journey of a lifetime when the cave that has always been their home, is destroyed. Traveling across a spectacular landscape, the Croods are rocked by generational clashes and seismic shifts as they discover an incredible new world filled with fantastic creatures — and their outlook is changed forever.

Rated PG, 98 Minutes

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman & Clark Duke

See The Croods:

Playing at both Forsyth County Movie Theatres

Click here for showtimes and listings at Carmike Cinemas / Movies 400
Click here for showtimes and listings at AMC Avenue Forsyth

Photo Provided by Allied THA

Disclosure: I was provided with four complimentary tickets to a pre-screening of The Croods movie in order to facilitate this review. However all thoughts & opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Guest Posts, Shop Local Tagged With: Georgia, Movie Reviews, The Croods, The Croods Movie Review, Things to do in Cumming GA, Things to do in Forsyth County GA

Minted – Holiday Cards & More

December 6, 2012 By mandi 1 Comment

Still looking for Holiday Cards?

Are you still on the search for the perfect holiday card this season? I was recently asked to review a new-to-me brand and wanted to share it with you. Maybe you’ve heard of it – Minted.com.

Have you already started getting cards from your friends & family? This is the time of year that I love to check the mailbox! I always look forward to the latest family photo from someone I haven’t seen in a while. But let’s be honest – it is somewhat of a contest, isn’t it? Who can send their card out first? Who’s card is funniest? Cutest? Most Clever? Most expensive – ha! That’s definitely not a contest I want to win!

And then there’s that list you don’t want to be on – sending the same card as someone else. It’s true, isn’t it?!? Yes, it’s the thought that counts but you also want your card to stand out (after all you probably spent a fair amount of money on it) & don’t want to find out your card is the exact same one as Aunt Betty sent too.

As I was browsing Minted Holiday Cards, I found lots of great new-to-me cards! The choices were full of colors, designs, and even clever messages that I haven’t seen!

Here are a few of my favorites:

Isn’t this perfect!! You know everyone & their brother makes fun of “Cumming, GA” already!! So why not say it loud & proud … I think that’s awesome! Or if you just moved here (or to any new city), what a fun way to show that this Christmas! PLEASE tell me if any of you use this one!

I like all the details you can add to this next one. It’s a fun way to summarize the past year.

And I just like the pop of red and the font colors on these last two.

So, if you’re still looking for cards this season, click here to take a look. And check out their other party goods & art decor too.

Disclosure: Minted partnered with bloggers such as me to help share the Minted Holiday Card Selections. As part of this program, I was compensated. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the use of the product. As always, my thoughts & opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Guest Posts

Disney on Ice: Rockin Ever After Review

October 11, 2012 By mandi Leave a Comment

We are huge fans of Disney in my house – parks, stores, movies … yes, they have us! And we’re also really big fans of the Disney on Ice shows.

In case you haven’t heard, the latest tour “Disney on Ice Rockin’ Ever After” is currently making its way through the country. We had the opportunity to check out the show in Atlanta on Wednesday night.

And I’m happy to report it was EVERYTHING I was hoping for!! The costumes, set designs, characters, and of course the skating too. It’s easy to forget that these characters are ice skating while they “sing”, dance, and act around.

The show opened, as usual for a Disney on Ice Production, with Mickey, Minnie and pals. They actually carry us through the entire show introducing new scenes. After a little skit with Pinocchio (one of my only “huh??” moments of the night), the show “unoffically” opened with The Little Mermaid.

I love how small stories about the overall movie plot are told throughout each scene. For The Little Mermaid, they highlighted Eric’s boat wreck, Ursela taking Ariel’s voice, and then Eric realizing Ariel was “the one”. If your children are scared by Ursela, she is in it for just a tiny bit – it’s really very quick. In fact I only managed to snap one quick picture of her – she looked awesome by the way!! Seriously awesome costume!

Next up, was the story of Tangled. For this scene, they focused Flynn breaking into Rapunzel’s tower and their journey to see the floating lanterns.

My son loved when Rapunzel kept hitting Flynn with the frying pan and my daughter loved all the lights. It really was gorgeous! Maximus was a huge hit for all of us – love him!! If you saw Disney on Ice – Dare to Dream, you might actually be a tiny bit disappointed in this version. Now my kids weren’t at all disappointed, but I remember Dare to Dream and it was absolutely phenomenal. This version was still really great, but shorter and I think Dare to Dream won out.

After a brief intermission, the story of Merida was next.

My son was really looking forward to this. They played out the archery scene were Merida’s three suitors all had to shoot for hand. One thing that might be interesting for several you – there were NO bears! So if your son or daughter are looking forward to that part, you might want to set different expectations. However, if you were concerned because your little one was scared of the bear scenes then you’ll be happy to find out – NO bears! I was a little surprised by this, but overall it was probably a smart move. And the scene was still great none the less.

And finally, the evening finished up with Beauty & the Beast – FABULOUS!

The storyline included Gaston and also Belle’s arrival to the Beast’s mansion. They did an incredible performance of “Be Our Guest” – seriously awesome!! And ended with a really beautiful dance with Belle & the Beast to “Tale as Old as Time”. It was wonderful!

Make sure you stick around for the very end though (if it’s a school night you might be tempted to head out early), because all the princesses come out in the “princess dresses” one last time.

Definitely a fun night & if you have the opportunity to take your little Prince or Princess, I don’t think you’d be disappointed!!

More About the Show:

Feld Entertainment, producer, released these Highlights:

A Scottish jig as royal contenders from BRAVE compete to win the heart of Merida.
Sebastian will break out of his shell for one night only to make waves with Ariel.
Harmless hooligans from Tangled unleash musical mayhem when they get a visit from the sassy & spirited Rapunzel!
The Beast and his castle’s enchanted entourage will take center stage in a spectacular show for Belle!

Atlanta Performance Information

Philips Arena in Atlanta
October 10th & 11th: 7:30pm
October 12th: 10:30am & 7:30pm
October 13th: 11:00am, 2:30pm & 6:30pm
October 14th: Noon & 4:00pm

National Ticket & Ticket Discount Information

Tickets can be purchased three way:

Box Office
Via Ticketmaster by phone at 1.800.745.3000.
Log on to Ticketmaster.com/gassouth

Use offer Code GASSOUTH and save 20% on tickets*

*SAVE 20% on the face price of ticket, excluding fees. Good for all performances. Excludes Rinkside, VIP and Club seats. No double discounts.

Disclosure: I was provided with four tickets for my family in order to facilitate this review; however, as always the opinions expressed are all honest & all mine.

Filed Under: Guest Posts Tagged With: Disney, Disney on Ice

Playground Tour: Old Atlanta Park

July 17, 2012 By mandi 8 Comments

Spray Pad Old Atlanta Park in Forsyth County

Forsyth County was busy opening four new parks in June 2012.

One of those parks was Old Atlanta Park located at 810 Nichols Road in Suwanee (Forsyth County). The park is directly across from Lambert High School.

Old Atlanta Park includes:

Approximately 39 acres, 34 of which are passive use space
Natural Playground
Tot-Lot for Children age 6 and under
Two Pavilions
One-Mile Walking Trail
Recreation Center
and possibly most exciting for our family & many others in Forsyth County … a Spray Pad!

The Spray Pad will be open seasonally through September 3rd. Hours of Operation are Tuesday – Saturday, 10am to 7pm and Sunday, 1pm to 6pm. Closed on Monday for Maintenance & Private Rental.

Admission to the Spray Pad is as follows:

Daily Admission – $2 per person (one year & up). Adults are free if you stay in the “dry area” (basically meaning, if you don’t plan on joining in the fun).
Annual Individual Passes – $30
Annual Family Passes – $50

Personal Thoughts (aka opinions of Mandi with Cumming Local):

Pros:

WooHoo!! How fun is this!
The Spray Pad area is all fenced in.
No deep water to worry about.
Same day re-entry is allowed by simply asking for a wrist band at time of exit.
Bathrooms are convenient & located inside fenced area.
Pavilions are very close. While you can’t bring food inside the Spray Pad area, you could leave a cooler in the car & have a snack or lunch at the Pavilion.

Cons:

At time of posting (July 17, 2012) there was very little seating in the “dry areas”. Consider bringing a chair or blanket to sit on. However, there is plenty of space so maybe additional seating will be provided at a later time.
At time of posting (July 17, 2012) there was very little shade in the “dry areas”. One large canopy thing & two large umbrellas. Additional shade in the future would certainly be nice – and again, this may be planned, but I’m unsure.

Tips:

Bring Cash for payment.
Consider bringing a chair or blanket to sit on.
Don’t forget your towel, sun screen, hat, etc.
Bring a snack or lunch to enjoy in the Pavilion. Running around a fun spray pad for just an hour or so will definitely stir up some hunger!
Make a day of it – the playground & recreation center are all in the same parking lot!

More Information:

Old Atlanta Park
810 Nichols Road, Suwanee GA (Forsyth County)
Old Atlanta Park on Facebook

Spray Pad Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday: 10am to 7pm
Sunday: 1pm to 6pm
Monday: Closed
Open Seasonally through September 3.

Spray Pad Fees:
Daily Admission – $2 per person (one year & up)
Annual Individual Passes – $30
Annual Family Passes – $50

Click here for our thoughts on other Forsyth County Parks & Playgrounds.

Filed Under: Guest Posts Tagged With: Forsyth County, Forsyth County Parks, Georgia, Old Atlanta Pary, Playground Tour, Spray Ground, Spray Pad, Suwanee GA, Things to do in Cumming GA, Things to do in Forsyth County, Things to do in Suwanee GA

Guest Post: Brambleman

June 24, 2012 By mandi 1 Comment

The following is a guest post by Jonathan Grant, award-winning writer & editor and Author of the new novel Brambleman.

Story description:

Down-and-out Atlanta writer Charlie Sherman has no idea what madness awaits when a stranger convinces him to finish a dead man’s book. Charlie’s work on the manuscript — about the mob-driven expulsion of 1,000 blacks from Forsyth County, Georgia in 1912 — leads him to a more recent crime that has enriched a Forsyth County family. Charlie becomes convinced that he’s been chosen by a Higher Power to wreak justice and vengeance upon those who profit from evil. And that’s when things go horribly wrong.

*********************************************************************************

In my novel, Charlie Sherman learns that there are things people need to know about Forsyth County, and he’s the one to tell them, despite facing overwhelming obstacles. This means there’s a book within the book—make that two.

First, there’s Forsyth County’s historic racial terrorism and ethnic cleansing. While this episode is well-known to some people, Atlanta is home to many relative newcomers. Most of the white people I’ve talked to didn’t know what happened in 1912. Others think Forsyth’s racial troubles began when Hosea Williams marched in 1987. African-Americans I’ve talked to have a different understanding, of course, along with a deeply-rooted aversion to the place.

Secondly, there’s a more recent crime that Charlie uncovers. (You’ll have to read Brambleman to find out about it.)

Of course, Forsyth today isn’t like it was in 1912—or even 1987. The new century has brought an influx of minority residents to the county, which is now more ethnically diverse than several of its neighbors. Forsyth County’s various people coexist in relative peace these days, as far as I can tell.

I started writing Brambleman in 1998, on the cusp of this change. It took me ten years to finish the book and another three to publish it. (Much of that time was spent raising kids and writing my other novel, Chain Gang Elementary.) Meanwhile, Williams (who died in 2000) and his marches faded to ancient history in many people’s minds. However, those civil rights protests provide a bridge between the horrors of 1912 and the forgetfulness of today. Consequently, the novel’s prologue begins on the morning of January 24, 1987, as 20,000 souls prepared to march into all-white Forsyth County. Then it jumps forward to the present day—or at least close to it.

Despite the premise, I wouldn’t call Brambleman a historical novel. Its setting is, after all, contemporary. I think of my Forsyth County saga as a novel about history. It also contains a strong supernatural element: While Charlie becomes convinced he’s been chosen by a Higher Power to complete a dangerous task, he’s never sure exactly who he’s working for. Along his spiritual journey (which he comes to see as a forced march), Charlie often wonders which side he’s on.

This is not a dry treatise. Many reviewers report a sense of constant surprise, of not knowing what will happen next; several readers call it a roller coaster.

I hope you’ll take the ride.

Connect with Brambleman:

Find Brambleman Online

Purchase a copy of Brambleman
Read Excerpt (Prologue and Chapter One)

Pick up copy of Brambleman at a local retail store

Filed Under: Guest Posts Tagged With: Brambleman, Jonathan Grant

Disney Pixar’s BRAVE: A Mom’s Review

June 22, 2012 By mandi Leave a Comment

Last week my family was invited to attend a screening of the new Disney Pixar Movie, BRAVE. Just from talking with my personal friends, I know there are mixed feelings about this movie. Some are excited it’s not so “Princess-y”, others are little skeptical about the target age just based upon the previews.

A little BRAVE Synopsis:

The story follows the legend of Merida – a medieval Scottish princess. Although she’s definitely not your typical princess. She would much rather be in the fields shooting arrows and practicing her archery skills. When her Mom is set on writing Merida’s future, Merida turns to an evil witch to “take care of it”. In turn she ends up putting a curse on her mother & her mother turns into a bear! Merida must then help hide her mother until she can get the curse reversed and her mother turned back into … well, her mother!

A little about OUR Experience:

So we took both children – our 3yo daughter and 6yo son. Our son really loved it a lot. He enjoyed the action, the silly humor, and all the bear fighting scenes. Our daughter enjoyed fewer parts. When I asked her what her favorite part was, she answered “when the Mom turned back into the Mom”. Here’s the thing – there were definitely some potentially scary scenes. I say potentially because it all depends on you and your child. The trailer being shown on TV shows a bear fight scene. In the movie, there are several of those. And they definitely scared my daughter – like burying her head scared. There are also some “questionable” (in my opinion) witch-like scenes. The witch is ugly. She’s creepy. Her magic is creepy too. This was definitely scary to my daughter and a little to eerie feeling even for me.

And a few of my Thoughts:

The movie honestly gave me a bad a taste at the very beginning. Having respect for each other is a very big thing in our house right now. Generally, the kids have a lot of respect for people outside of our immediate family, but we are in a constant pattern right now of trying to show & teach our kids how to have respect for Mom / Dad and Brother / Sister. And the movie opened with just a lot of disrespect for each other – whines, eye rolling, disobeying – just a general lack of disrespect. And yes, the movie did have several scary and intense scenes. But here’s the thing, scary isn’t anything really new for Disney. I can’t think of a Disney movie that doesn’t have a scary character. Little Mermaid has Ursula, Lion King has Scar, Beauty & the Beast has The Beast, and Brave has some really mean bears.

But on the positive, the overall message lead to something very beautiful. Both Merida and her mother learned to have respect for each other – in a very loving way. They had to work together to reverse the curse. And Merida was definitely a strong character.

On the ride home, my family was able to have some great discussions about the characters, the decisions they made, the attitudes they had to each other and ultimately – respect.

Tips & Other Reviews:

I’m very glad that we saw it and I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw it again. If you are concerned about taking your children, here’s a few tips:

I would highly suggest the Audio Book that is available at Target. It’s a very short version of the movie, but would very likely help prepare your child for some scenes (while also letting them know it will all work out in the end). And might also provide you with a good indicator if they are ready or not.
Check out a review at Common Sense Media.
For a more personal review, I love my friend’s thoughts over at Impress Your Kids. She gives a lot of great detail and specifics in a very fair way.

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to share in the comments below!

Catch a Showtime:

*Note: We did not see this in 3-D and I think it was perfectly fine. You might save some money and it also might save a little on the fear factor too;)

AMC Theater – Forsyth Avenue

Carmike Cinemas / Movies 400

Disclosure: I was provided with Complimentary tickets to a screening in order to facilitate this review. However, all opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Guest Posts Tagged With: BRAVE

Parks in Forsyth County

June 12, 2012 By mandi 1 Comment

Parks in Forsyth County –

Ducktown Park, Coal Mountain Park, Sawnee Mountain Park

There are some great parks in Forsyth County with lots of great playgrounds to enjoy too.

Last week I took the kids (and myself) on an adventure through some Forsyth County Parks – starting our Park Tour on the 75 Days of Summer Guide. It was rather spontaneous because I was waiting on close to perfect weather & for the month of June it was cooler than normal (and without rain), so I figured that was as close as we would get!

I decided to map out a total of four parks. We hit two before lunch then came home for a quick bite & to re-fill our water bottles & snack supplies before heading out to two more parks. We threw in a climb up Sawnee Mountain and a visit to that playground too. And we ended with ice-cream at Chick-fil-a. Overall, it was a great day! And we tried some new-to-us parks along the way!

If you want to make your own Park Tour, click here for a listing and description of the major Forsyth County Parks. Then plug away into Mapquest & get your plan!

Below, we’re sharing pictures & also a small pro/con list of each park. Of course the pro & cons are from my perspective (Mandi) and in my opinion only. Your list may look different!

Ducktown Park

5895 Heardsville Road
Cumming, GA 30028

Features: Picnic Pavilion, Fitness Playground, Outdoor (Sand) Volleyball Court, Horse Shoe Pits, Open Grass Fields, Rubber Surface Walking / Running Path
Pro: Great Walking / Running Track around Playground, Bathrooms & Covered Picnic Pavilion Convenient to Playground, Sand Pit
Con: Zero Shade, Sand Pit

Sawnee Mountain Park

3995 Watson Road
Cumming, GA 30040

Features: 8 Youth Baseball / Softball Fields, 1 Senior Baseball Field, 1 Football Field, 1 Soccer Field, Outdoor Basketball Courts, 4 Tennis Courts, Playground, Walking Trail, Picnic Pavilion, Community Building with Kitchen
Pro: Fenced in Playground
Con: Picnic Tables are not covered (although there are some a short walk away). Restrooms are not super convenient to the playground. Zero Shade.

Coal Mountain Park

3560 Settingdown Road
Cumming, GA 30028

Features: 8 Youth Baseball / Softball Fields, 1 Soccer Field, 2 Tennis Courts, 2 Playgrounds, Walking Trail, Picnic Pavilion & Community Building
Pro: SHADE! Covered Picnic Pavilion & Restrooms are super convenient to the playground.
Con: We couldn’t find any!

Tips to Making a Park Tour Work:

1. Pack a good cooler – preferably small enough it’s easy to get in & out of the car each time, but large enough to hold everyone’s water & at least one snack for each park.

2. At each park, take time to sit & relax at the picnic tables and refuel a little with your water & snacks.

3. Tell the kids in advance how many parks you’re going to. And make sure they know this means you’re not going to stay at each park very long but you’ll be going to lots of fun parks instead.

4. Make sure you have a little first aid bag with you – more than one park, most likely means more than one boo-boo.

5. If your little ones still nap, it’s super easy to plan your trip around that. Mine didn’t nap, but we came home in between our tour, ate lunch, cooled off, and chilled out for about 45 minutes to an hour. The kids ate great because they knew we were headed out the door again!

6. Enjoy the fun!

For more fun ideas in Forsyth County, check out our 75 Days of Summer Guide.

Filed Under: Guest Posts Tagged With: Coal Mountain Park, Ducktown Park, Forsyth County Parks, Sawnee Mountain Park, Sawnee Mountain Preserve

Madagascar 3: A Cumming Local Review

June 8, 2012 By mandi Leave a Comment

Madagascar 3 – Europe’s Most Wanted

If you follow Cumming Local on Facebook (and you do, right?), you might have caught an update last weekend that my family was invited to attend an advance screening of the latest Madagascar 3 – Europe’s Most Wanted.

We’ve been big fans of #1 and #2, so we were excited for the next adventure. And I must say it didn’t disappoint! I think the characters in Madagascar are just a lot of fun and enjoyable to watch. All the voices (Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer & more) are perfect fits and definitely bring the images to life.

The storyline was really cute – Alex, Marty, Gloria and Melman are still fighting to get home to the Big Apple. They end up in Europe where they join a traveling circus (while attempting to elude one very determined Animal Control Cop). The circus theme made it a lot of fun because the most definitely give it some “Madagascar style”.

I checked out how Common Sense Media (a great Mom resource by the way) rated it. And my opinions were really right in line with theirs. I had a 3 year old and a 6 year old. It was spot on for my son (the six year old) – the humor & the adventure – and Common Sense agreed that 6 was actually the perfect age.

There was only one disappointment in my opinion. One of the characters made a reference to a “bad word” – “Bolshevik” is made to sound like “bull—t”. My children didn’t catch it, but a little older & they might have. It just wasn’t necessary & I don’t understand why movies feel the need to do that.

But overall, it’s very true to “Madagascar” – friendship, loyalty & fun!

If you’ve been fans of the other movies or it’s a new run for you – I’d definitely put it on your Summer Fun list!

Catch Madagascar 3 in Cumming GA & Forsyth County

Movies 400 / Carmike Cinemas

AMC – Avenue Forsyth

Disclosure: Our family was provided with four tickets in order to facilitate this review; however, that did not sway my opinions – all of which are mine & mine alone ~ Mandi

Filed Under: Guest Posts Tagged With: Madagascar

Whole Foods Budgeting 101

May 14, 2012 By mandi 1 Comment

The following is a guest post by Cumming Resident Anna Everhart. Anna is a wife, mother, author, blogger and someone I’m happy to know personally! So many of us have a desire to eat real, clean, whole food but often struggle with the thought that good food is also more expensive food. Today, Anna’s sharing some very basic concepts and tips for eating locally grown, organic food … on a budget!

Whole Foods Budgeting 101 by Anna Everhart

2012 has brought me a task of super mommy epic proportions. Or, that is, my husband Jeremy has charged me with coming up with a grocery budget of $400 while still eating locally grown, organic food. “Oh, that will be easy honey!” I say as I bite my lip and grab a pen and paper. One thing that makes budgeting so easy with local food is that it’s a flat rate with no extra tax. I know exactly to the dollar what my grocery bill will be! OK, I have THAT going for me….but not much else!

Feeding a family of 4 good wholesome food on $400/month, is…a stretch. BUT, I have to do it, so I thought I would share this information with you! I am sure many of us are in budget crunch mode. Truth be told, I could sacrifice quality and have more money for…what…snack food? McDonald’s? But, what good will that do for our health? NO, I am staying the course and enforcing our whole food lifestyle, and I am super mommy, budget green extraordinaire, and I am going to DO THIS!

Will you join me? Will you make 2012 your healthiest year yet while staying on a budget fit for a lower middle class family? Let’s forge ahead, shall we?

To read the rest of this article, click over to Anna’s post on Thoughts for Today.

Photo Source

Filed Under: Guest Posts Tagged With: Anna Everhart

Mother’s Day – Celebrating & Remembering

May 12, 2012 By mandi 1 Comment

The following is a Guest Post by Contributing Writer, Heather Clark. Ms. Clark is the Director for Act Together Ministries in South Forsyth County. This was on my heart, but Heather expressed it in words perfectly and I’m so thankful she shared it with us!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there.

Thank you for the sacrifices you make. For staying up all night with a sick child, for helping with homework, running the family taxi to endless ball games, and for all the things you do to keep the household running smoothly. May your day be blessed with flowers, breakfast in bed, extra chores from the kids, handmade crafts, and time to yourself.

But during this special day to celebrate motherhood, please take a moment to say a prayer for those around you who may be struggling or hurting on this day. There are so many different situations that often go overlooked.

We send our love and prayers to

The children and adults who’ve lost their mother. We’re so sorry for your loss. May you take this special day to remember your mother.
Those who have difficult relationships with their mother due to abuse or struggles from the past. Forgive us when we judge you. May God heal the wounds in your heart.
The lady who wants nothing more than to become a mother. Maybe you aren’t married, maybe you’re infertile, or perhaps you lost a child this year. Know that you are not alone and it’s not your fault.
The mother who cares for her chronically or terminally sick child day in and day out. May you feel cherished for the mother that you are.
Our military families- the mother whose son or daughter is protecting our country or the wife of young children whose spouse is overseas. May we remember to honor you for your great sacrifice.
The single mother who works 50 hours per week and her children are too young to realize it’s Mother’s day. You are not forgotten.
The grieving mother whose child is no longer with us. May we mourn with you. Forgive us when we’re naïve enough to think time heals all wounds.
The faithful mother who made no more mistakes than the rest of us yet her child ran away, is on drugs, or mistreats her. May God grant you the peace that passes understanding and may we be a shoulder for you to cry on.
The woman who serves as a mother to many. Perhaps you are a teacher, a foster mom, or a mentor. We praise you because you certainly do not get the appreciation you deserve.
The mother of a severe special needs child. This is not what motherhood was supposed to look like, this is not what you imagined when you played “house” with your dolls as a child. You endure more than most of us can imagine and we applaud you.
The teenager who is expecting a baby. Thank you for choosing life for your child, for enduring an emotional roller coaster, and for sacrificing months of your life to carry the pregnancy to term.

May God open our eyes to the hardships and pain around us. While it’s great to celebrate, let’s remember those who can’t or have a difficult time doing so. And for those who are hurting, let’s be happy for those who have much to celebrate.

Stay connected with Heather:

Blog – http://blog.actogetherministries.org
Online – www.actogetherministries.org
Facebook – www.facebook.com/actogether
Twitter – www.twitter.com/actogether
Linkedin – www.linkedin.com/… Heather Clark

Filed Under: Guest Posts Tagged With: Mother's Day

The Croods Movie Review

More about The Croods:

See The Croods:

Still looking for Holiday Cards?

Here are a few of my favorites:

More About the Show:

Atlanta Performance Information

National Ticket & Ticket Discount Information

Spray Pad Old Atlanta Park in Forsyth County

Personal Thoughts (aka opinions of Mandi with Cumming Local):

More Information:

Connect with Brambleman:

A little BRAVE Synopsis:

A little about OUR Experience:

And a few of my Thoughts:

Tips & Other Reviews:

Catch a Showtime:

Parks in Forsyth County –

Ducktown Park, Coal Mountain Park, Sawnee Mountain Park

Ducktown Park

Sawnee Mountain Park

Coal Mountain Park

Tips to Making a Park Tour Work:

Madagascar 3 – Europe’s Most Wanted

Catch Madagascar 3 in Cumming GA & Forsyth County

Whole Foods Budgeting 101 by Anna Everhart

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