Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Monday Musings
Out in my yard today... mostly sunny and 75 degrees, but the forecast calls for scattered showers later today. We have had an incredibly wet spring this year, so I'm feeling a little grumpy about the prospect of even more rain.
I'm finishing Fortytude- Making the Next Decades the Best Years of Your Life- through the 40s, 50s, and Beyond by Sarah Brokaw. The daughter of news anchor Tom Brokaw, she is a licensed therapist. The book is based on experiences in her private practice, as well as her own life. 
I'm also working my way through Debbie Macomber's One Simple Act Discovering the Power of Generosity. Debbie has been one of my favorite fiction authors for quite some time, but she has also written some good non-fiction books in recent years. I picked up this one because I am really trying to work on being a more generous person.
On the top of my pile this week is Max Lucado's Outlive Your Life You Were Made to Make a Difference. I'm reading this book in preparation for a summer ladies Bible study group that I am helping with at church. Max Lucado is one of my most favorite Christian authors of all time. His writing is absolutely saturated with the love of God.
Baxter relaxed with me on the patio while I had my coffee this morning.
All of that relaxing really wears a dog out!
The snowball bush produced more flowers this year than we've seen since we moved in seven years ago.
Little baby peaches- the tree is covered with them! Maybe we'll actually have a worthwhile harvest this year.
The irises are beautiful this year!
I'm grateful for... a successful end to this school year! Hope and Brianna both worked very hard this year and earned exceptional grades. The girls helped Dave get his classroom organized and put away for summer in record time. Hallelujah!
One of my favorite things...
is this cute little solar-powered froggy light that my hubby gave me. When it gets dark, the frog's body gives off a cool blue glow. So cute!
This week I'm reading... several books at once! So what else is new?
I'm finishing Fortytude- Making the Next Decades the Best Years of Your Life- through the 40s, 50s, and Beyond by Sarah Brokaw. The daughter of news anchor Tom Brokaw, she is a licensed therapist. The book is based on experiences in her private practice, as well as her own life. I'm also working my way through Debbie Macomber's One Simple Act Discovering the Power of Generosity. Debbie has been one of my favorite fiction authors for quite some time, but she has also written some good non-fiction books in recent years. I picked up this one because I am really trying to work on being a more generous person.On the top of my pile this week is Max Lucado's Outlive Your Life You Were Made to Make a Difference. I'm reading this book in preparation for a summer ladies Bible study group that I am helping with at church. Max Lucado is one of my most favorite Christian authors of all time. His writing is absolutely saturated with the love of God. I'm looking forward to... finishing the house painting project that we started this last weekend. I don't think that the weather is going to be too cooperative for the next couple of days, so it might take a while to get done. I'm also excited to celebrate our wedding anniversary on Friday. Twenty-two years of wedded bliss!
Simple life tip for the week... "I felt it shelter to speak to you." ~Emily Dickinson Communication is vital to any relationship. Are you a safe haven for those in your life? Are you careful to withhold judgement and criticism? Are you an attentive listener? Seek to focus this week on being "shelter" to those you encounter. You just might be surprised at the results!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Whatever you do...DO NOT BLINK!!!
I recently posted this status on Facebook: "Two beautiful young women walked through my front door a little while ago. The blonde one announced that she is now a high school senior. The brunette claims to be a sophomore. They both insist that I am their mother; clearly that is not possible because my girls are still babies and I am only 29!" It was the last day of school for my girls and they were so excited about advancing to the next grade level in their education. For me, it was one of those moments where I saw who they really are and how much they have grown with such clarity that it positively overwhelmed me. Based on the responses from my Facebook friends, it seems that I am not alone in this experience. One mom said, "Haha! =) I better not blink!" My response to her: "Whatever you do...DO NOT BLINK! That's when they grow!"
I've been thinking a lot about this business of "blinking." In it's most literal sense, blinking means "to close the eyelids and open them quickly one or more times, as either a reflex or a conscious act." The rate of blinking varies, but on average our eyes blink about once every 5 seconds, or 17,000 times per day. In general we don't give much attention to this largely involuntary act. But the definition that I think of in regards to growing children is this: "to flash on and off." It is in that moment of "off" that change seems to be more noticeable.
We can find ourselves in "off" mode- that time when our focus is momentarily removed- for a variety of reasons. Sometimes there is a crisis that demands our attention, but usually it is the busyness of daily life that distracts us. Dishes, carpool, never-ending piles of laundry, financial pressures; attending to the natural needs of a family can be exhausting!
So how do we refocus? For me, the key has been to take it moment by moment. I have to remind myself that there will always be more chores to do, but this particular time with my family will never happen again. When I am able to stay in the moment, I am able to really enjoy whatever is going on. I'm certainly not perfect and, all too often, I've succumbed to the temptation to do "just one more thing" or get caught up in worrying about tomorrow. I'm so much less productive when I allow that to happen.
I've heard it said that children spell "love" t-i-m-e and, in my experience, I have found this to be true. So, take time to dance in the kitchen. Sing silly songs at the top of your lungs. Find a jar to put the cool bug in for the afternoon and sneak up on the butterflies in your yard. Share stories, draw pictures, bake cookies, and build stuff. Help them set up the lemonade stand in the front yard, even if you're pretty sure that you'll be their only customer. Explore the wonders of creation and, along the way, share with them the love of our Creator. Cuddle, snuggle, nestle, and nuzzle every day. Most of all, take time to really listen to your children. You will learn more about them and from them than you ever dreamed possible!
Unfortunately, I can't prevent my girls from growing up any more than I can prevent myself from blinking. At this stage in motherhood, I find myself wondering what else I need to give them to be successful as adults. I can honestly say, though, that I don't have any regrets about the time I've spent with them over the years. Hopefully I've been able to stay "on" more than "off." Remember, the days are long, but the years are short. Carpe diem!
I've been thinking a lot about this business of "blinking." In it's most literal sense, blinking means "to close the eyelids and open them quickly one or more times, as either a reflex or a conscious act." The rate of blinking varies, but on average our eyes blink about once every 5 seconds, or 17,000 times per day. In general we don't give much attention to this largely involuntary act. But the definition that I think of in regards to growing children is this: "to flash on and off." It is in that moment of "off" that change seems to be more noticeable.
We can find ourselves in "off" mode- that time when our focus is momentarily removed- for a variety of reasons. Sometimes there is a crisis that demands our attention, but usually it is the busyness of daily life that distracts us. Dishes, carpool, never-ending piles of laundry, financial pressures; attending to the natural needs of a family can be exhausting!
So how do we refocus? For me, the key has been to take it moment by moment. I have to remind myself that there will always be more chores to do, but this particular time with my family will never happen again. When I am able to stay in the moment, I am able to really enjoy whatever is going on. I'm certainly not perfect and, all too often, I've succumbed to the temptation to do "just one more thing" or get caught up in worrying about tomorrow. I'm so much less productive when I allow that to happen.
I've heard it said that children spell "love" t-i-m-e and, in my experience, I have found this to be true. So, take time to dance in the kitchen. Sing silly songs at the top of your lungs. Find a jar to put the cool bug in for the afternoon and sneak up on the butterflies in your yard. Share stories, draw pictures, bake cookies, and build stuff. Help them set up the lemonade stand in the front yard, even if you're pretty sure that you'll be their only customer. Explore the wonders of creation and, along the way, share with them the love of our Creator. Cuddle, snuggle, nestle, and nuzzle every day. Most of all, take time to really listen to your children. You will learn more about them and from them than you ever dreamed possible!
Unfortunately, I can't prevent my girls from growing up any more than I can prevent myself from blinking. At this stage in motherhood, I find myself wondering what else I need to give them to be successful as adults. I can honestly say, though, that I don't have any regrets about the time I've spent with them over the years. Hopefully I've been able to stay "on" more than "off." Remember, the days are long, but the years are short. Carpe diem!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Word-filled Wednesday
“So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors." ~ Deuteronomy 11:18-21
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