Valerie Felder is a home schooling mother of nine amazing kids, with experience of 25 years in her VAlLee Christian Academy. Living her manta “Diligent hands produce’, she is a long-standing childbirth instructor/breastfeeding counselor, a former president and current member of Toastmasters International adult and youth public speaking programs, a specialized certified personal trainer for senior citizens within Titan SenQuest system, and an adjunct professor providing business communications instruction to women incarcerated in federal prison camp. Valerie, alongside her amazing husband Lee, are cofounders and board members for the National Black Home Educators and formerly served on the Brazos Valley Christian Home Educators Association.
Affectionately known as the The MasterOverMayhem, Valerie is the Parenting Strategist who empowers parents to raise amazing children in a messy world – showing how to realistically and sensibly Take the Struggle out of the Juggle of Family, Fitness and Focus. She writes, keynotes, and provides workshops, retreats, and personal phone consults while also managing her self-help website (www.valeriefelder.com) – all outreaches to recharge families worldwide. Valerie is a military veteran with degrees from the University of Michigan and Troy University.
Valerie’s passion is being Lee’s amazing wife and an equally amazing mom, teacher, and cheerleader for their children (ages 9 – 27) – molding hearts and minds for the Lord. She currently teaches four children and has graduated five: Two are Texas A&M University graduates; three are students at Sam Houston State, Baylor University, and the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Workshops that will be presented at the 2017 FEAST Convention:
1) Taking the Struggle out of Fitness: Temple Maintenance
To just “do” life can be physically exhausting – so maintain the body temple to keep your ministry moving through you. This program is adaptable as a stand-alone fitness workshop or breakout. Participants enjoy a fun fitness routine as well as a personalized workout plan targeting flexibility, strength and cardiovascular health.
2) Taking the Struggle out of Family Economics
Dealing wisely with finances helps keep a family healthy and intact. Gain insight from money-saving strategies employed by this MasterOverMayhem (Mom) of an 11-member family. This is a mom who has had to live on one income, apart from a husband (when his job demanded he move alone), singlehandedly managing life and expenses for the children at home, sometimes supporting multiple/overlapping college kids, while operating home-based businesses. Money does not grow on trees, but sowing wisely lets you reap economic benefits when everybody gets involved.
3) Purposeful Parents – Exceptional Kids
Foundation parenting concepts are highlighted in this program to create positive change in both parent and child. Effective parenting means understanding the various seasons of the parent/child dynamic. Real applications and plans are discussed to help walk parents through common dilemmas that often ensnare well-intentioned parents. Formula-based plans and encouragement combine here to give back-to-basics strategies and methods revealing how to:
- Instill winning family teamwork concepts
- Manage and defuse counter-productive attitudes
- Base living on calm reality of life’s imperfections
- Manage their family in firm yet loving ways
Taking the Struggle Out of Fitness:
Temple Maintenance
by Valerie Felder
Seeing people live their lives with greater zest and zeal is what drives my passion as a fitness trainer. My specialty is training the senior population. These are people on a vigorous mission to maintain their physical independence. They understand that, unless they exercise their bodies, they will lose the essence of their physical selves. Believers of Christ must also see how they can lose their zest to more fully witness due to poor fitness. Hence, my motto and call to Christians to stay on the fitness wagon, for “There’s no witness without fitness”.
My seniors battle against time and aged-body limitations to maintain reasonable functional fitness. Similarly, we parents battle against time and over-tasked body limitations. Yet, if we submit to the fact that our bodies are not our own, but temples of the living God, then we can choose to be more than conquerors in our quest to maintain our own physical essence – for the sake of our families, as well.
The issue of over-tasked bodies is a reality for time strapped parents – raising children is a 24/7 undertaking. I often see parents struggling to figure how much and when to exercise. For the “how much”, I encourage parents to start with basic Department of Health and Human Services standards. They recommend 30 minutes of daily physical activity to reduce the risk of adulthood chronic diseases. Studies show that lengthy fitness routines can be divided into several routines to still achieve physical benefit.
Here is my 103 (pronounced 10-Cubed) Fitness Plan that I developed for my time-strapped clients. It divides a workout into the 3 major fitness elements as shown here:
Segment I-Cardio, 10mins +
Segment II-Flexibility, 10mins +
Segment III-Strength, 10mins
Within each segment, focus only on that category of exercise. Next, move to the following segment, if time permits, or plan to do later. The goal is doing Segments I-III by the midpoint of your day to meet minimum standards. Repeating the process before bedtime upgrades your fitness. Do the 103 Fitness Plan every other day. Alternate days, a brisk walk or other cardio-based activity serves your temple well. Lastly, be sure to give yourself one day in seven to rest.
Come enjoy all the topics and tips that will help keep you physically and mentally fit to raise and home school your family. We look forward to seeing you at the 2017 FEAST Convention!
