Setting an Example for the Young

There is nothing like the proud feeling you get as a parent when you see your children serving the Lord and his people. It is also oh so humbling. At church yesterday, as I was trying to hurry my kids out of church to go get breakfast, my son runs a way as he tells me to wait. "What are you doing?" I yell after him impatiently. I take a few steps toward the sanctuary doors to see him grabbing a couple bibles to hand out. You see, we were in between services and people were starting to make their way in. He wanted to serve and I could wait. After being taken back by this, my child, my dad whispers in my ear, "He is learning from example." My dad's example as a matter of fact. He hands them out when it is needed and my boy was watching. I hurried to get out my camera to take in this beautiful moment. The pictures may not look like much but there is no art more beautiful than love in action. I captured it and while doing so, baby girl learned from big brothers example, grabbed the two little bibles on the bottom shelf and went out on her own mission. 

 Titus 2:6-8 ~ ...encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned....
 











1 Timothy 4:11-12 ~ Command and teach these things. Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

I wonder..... was God smiling as big as me that morning at such a beautiful sight? 

Welcoming Autumn

The countryside surrounding Vezelay, France in October.

Autumn is here, my favorite time of year. 

The leaves change colors and fall. 

The days grow shorter as the night comes quicker. 

Crisp air brings about cozy blankets and sweaters. 

On the breeze there is a scent of smoke from fires warming cuddling people. 

Fog greets us in the morning with a silent hug. 

The pumpkins and corn grow big and tall, getting ready for the harvest.

Fall surrounds me and brings with it a smile and a wonderful peace to my heart.  

Remembering

My mom came in my room and woke me up. I knew by the way she was acting something was wrong. We watched it together in her room as all the horror unfolded live on the t.v. I was in a blood shot-puffy eyes-horrified daze all day as I worked as a teller at 1st Independent Bank. I was a very quiet day there and, when we did get customers, there wasn't a whole lot of chitchat. I am not sure if any of the lives lost that day is some one I know but that doesn't matter. For those lost and for those who lost, I cry for them all, every year.  And I try to take time to remember what that flag stands for. FREEDOM 

Leaving a Legacy of Unusual

Unusual:  noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced; being out of the ordinary

        Synonyms: curious, extraordinary, funny, odd, peculiar, rare, singular, uncommon, unique, exceptional, irregular, notable, noticeable, particular, remarkable

        Antonyms: common, ordinary, plain, usual, expected, predictable, normal, regular, typical, familiar, ordinary, everyday

For some reason unknown to me, the comment my 8th grade U.S. History teacher wrote in my year book came to mind this morning. Here is the comment he wrote to me, 

"You have a great character (a little unusual) and you will go far in life." 

For a long time, the part of the comment in parentheses had somewhat irritated me. And it hurt a little bit. Ya know. I mean 'unusual'. Being 'unusual' never seemed like a good thing. At least, not to a kid that was going into high school after that summer ended. That place of the popular kids and everyone else. To me, it read that I was the ugly duckling or the black sheep or something close to those characters. So, irritated and hurt and offended, I put it out of my mind.

Then this morning, I thought about that comment and went looking for it. I read it again. 

"You have a great character (a little unusual) and you will go far in life." 

Now, as a parent with a kid off on his first full day of kindergarten, I am pondering this comment. I think about all of it now, not just the part in the parentheses. And as I think about all of it, including that part, it makes me smile. I appreciate it now. It is something that I realize now is a good thing and something that I have continued to be. I see it in me now as a strength and I want to embrace it; to continue to mold that part of my character into something good, something to leave to my kids as a legacy. 

What would a legacy of unusual look like? Well, just look at those synonyms. Funny. Curious. Remarkable. Rare. Exceptional. Notable. Those are terms I can get behind and encourage my kids to strive for in their lives. Is being like all those that are 'popular', all those in the media, like all those images that are pushed on us by marketers and big corporations, all the influences of our modern culture and society; is being like all that unusual? I say, no. I want for myself and for my kids a great character of the unusual sort. Not of the common or expected or familiar.

So just imagine what leaving a legacy of unusual could do... 

from an ordinary day to an extraordinary day

While garage sale-ing a couple of weekends ago I found a free box full of magazines. Jack Pot! Those are one of my favorite things to find at garage sales. I picked out a large handful to take home and have been reading ever since. One of the free magazines I brought home was a copy of Better Homes & Gardens from June 2004 and in it is an article titled, "A Day Like No Other." It was written by a Michele Meyer and I loved it so much that I wanted to share it with you all. Since I could not find it online, I am going to give you the main points she makes with a little of my own additions here and there. I hope you enjoy it and that it inspires you like it has me. 

My stack of free magazines with BH&G June 2004 on top.

Michele writes, "It's all too easy to put off so many of the little things in life, so you should make a commitment to trying these suggestions as soon as possible-today, in fact." And we should because, if we are not already aware we should be, life is short. We put things off until tomorrow because there is always tomorrow. Right? Maybe not. And if there is, those years fly by and I hope that my family, my kids will look back to see extraordinary days instead of ordinary or ugly days. 

"Here then are 12 suggestions that you can put into action" to turn today, an ordinary day, into an extraordinary day. 

1. Love To Be Loved ~ Offer each family member a warm hug and kiss whenever you part or reunite. You'll not only remind them that they are loved, but you'll also feel more loved yourself.
2. Listen. Really Listen ~ There's a line from a movie that goes: "Are you listening or are you waiting to speak?" Often we're so busy crafting our response that we hardly hear what others say. Break yourself of this habit.
3. Create A Secret Affection Code ~ Devise a gesture, like tapping the tip of your nose, to silently signal your spouse and kids "I love you" in public. Then put it to use daily.
4. Daydream For A Moment or Two ~ A mental break not only lets you destress, studies say it also boosts creativity and improves sleep and eating habits. So take time to be a momentary space cadet.
5. Use Humor in Frustrating Situations ~ While stuck in traffic or the slowest checkout line ever, look for the absurdity of a situation-and often you'll find yourself chuckling instead of stewing.
6. Watch Your Kids Sleep ~ No matter how old they are, a few moments of seeing your kids' peaceful, beautiful faces in repose can make up for the (many) hassles of parenting. Sneak in tonight and have a quiet look.
7. Boost Someone's Confidence ~ Have each family member say something positive at dinnertime. It doesn't always have to be about a person; it could simply be about their day.
8. Hold Someone's Hand ~ Few experiences are as tender as a hand slipped unexpectedly into another's. Touch is an incredibly important part of life. It makes you more alert and attentive. It builds intimacy. And it just plain feels good.
9. Climb a Tree ~ Blow bubbles, do a cartwheel, climb a tree, or read one of your child's books for yourself. Reconnect with childhood.
10. Keep Your Fan Mail ~ Create a file folder and sock away any written compliments you get from your spouse, kids, siblings, and friends. Add to it each time you receive something that makes you feel good about yourself. Then return the favor. 
11. A Little Bit Goes A Long Way ~ Feel overwhelmed by a daunting task or tasks? Instead of procrastinating and dreading them, take one step toward completing them, no matter how small. Once you do, you build momentum. 
12. Linger Every Day ~ Forgetting how to dawdle is a tragedy. Make sure it doesn't happen to you. So once a day, take a few minutes longer at something than you normally would. Snuggle with your spouse in the morning after the alarm goes off instead of leaping out of bed. Savor a cup of coffee (or tea) while reading the newspaper instead of downing it on the way to day care. Life is busy enough. Before today ends, carve out a small chunk of time just for lingering. "Women run from one task to another and forget to take time for themselves," Patricia Averill, PhD, says. "Taking just 10 minutes every day reminds you that you're valuable too."

Me and baby girl lingering in the hammock in the backyard.

And you know what? You are. 
Lets all help to make it an extraordinary day for each other.

Getting ready for school with Mom's Manager

So, everyone that has a school aged kid knows it's back-to-school time. Time to gear up, stock up and get back to a routine. Well, my little guy is starting kindergarten this year and all this back-to-school stuff is new to me. Okay, yes, I did go to school when I was his age so it isn't completely new to me but, now that I am the parent, this planning out new routines and stocking up on supplies and getting mentally prepared, is new. 

And a little overwhelming. And exciting. And worrisome. And fun. 

Mom needs a manager. 

Well, what to my pleasant surprise, while shopping for school supplies, there it was. Mom's manager. Ready for me to take it home at the sale price of $3.99! A full 18 month planning calendar to keep the whole family on track and together. I am so excited. I love these calendars because you can give each member a color so everyone knows what is going on with who. And, as a helpful bonus, it comes with some stickers to flag certain events and doings. 

I am in love!

Their sample page of how to effectively use
the planner. 

The stickers that came with the calendar.

With our manager in play, I feel like we are ready for school to start. And for our first ever school year start, I hope this helps to keep us organized, on track, on time and, most importantly, sane! What helps you get your school year off to a good start?

Delight in the house of God

A Psalm

About a month ago, I went blueberry picking with my mother-in-law and my two kids. It was beautiful out, in the country, birds chirping and the sun shining down. My kids picking and eating and getting dirty while I was filling my bucket to fill my freezer for the year. Life was good; life is good. And then I found it, the little birds nest, tucked away in the bush, a reminder to me from my God.

Psalms 84: 1-4 (NIV)

How lovely is your dwelling place, 

O Lord Almighty!

My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young- a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God. 

Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.

Yes, how lovely it is. And I am blessed. I will praise you!