One of my Grandma's favorite sayings is: "I'm just trying to be a blessing." I know we need to bless others, but I don't think we should rob others of their chance to bless as well. We shouldn't be focused on being so independent that we don't allow others to "be a blessing."
Check out Gretchen Rubin's thoughts on this topic: http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2012/11/story-you-can-be-generous-by-taking/
When have you let someone be a blessing for you?
Do you struggle with being blessed and always want to be the one blessing?
Can you be a gracious receiver?
Why don't we practice being thankful to others, as well as to God.
If you like reading my posts, please consider following me. It's an easy way to know when I've posted something new
Thanksgiving for today:
106: Dishes put in the sink
107. Clean, soft dog
108. Kids willing to help out when needed
109. Beautiful sounds of singing coming from the back room
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Thank God No Matter What Happens
"Thank God no matter what happens. This is how God wants you who belong to Jesus Christ to live."
--I Thessalonians 5:18 (MSG)
Thanksgiving for today:
97. Weekly staff meeting
98. Christmas decorations going up in the Christmas city of the High Plains
99. People who hold doors open
100. Church with a pastor in the office and people stopping by
101. God putting a song in your heart wherever you are
102. Working Healthy
103. Disability rights in Kansas (thanks Bob Dole)!!
104. Finding out Farkle is packaged in Kansas
105.Neighbors who come bearing dessert
--I Thessalonians 5:18 (MSG)
Thanksgiving for today:
97. Weekly staff meeting
98. Christmas decorations going up in the Christmas city of the High Plains
99. People who hold doors open
100. Church with a pastor in the office and people stopping by
101. God putting a song in your heart wherever you are
102. Working Healthy
103. Disability rights in Kansas (thanks Bob Dole)!!
104. Finding out Farkle is packaged in Kansas
105.Neighbors who come bearing dessert
Monday, November 19, 2012
Give Thanks
If you like reading my posts, please consider following me. It's an easy way to know when I've posted something new
Thanksgiving for today:
Professional sources of knowledge
Clear skies
Once Upon a Time
Community Appreciation Night
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Have a New Kid by Friday Book Review
I read Have a New Kid By Friday by Dr. Kevin Leman twice. The first time I was away from my kids so although it was great, I couldn't implement the ideas. Then, after I came home I read it again. What I learned both times is that it's not really about changing your kids. It's really about changing yourself as a parent.
It's been awhile since I read it, so I'm not going to remember details. What I do remember is B doesn't happen until A is done. Now, that's no fun for anyone. Especially when you know it is something they would really like to do and that would even be good for them. Why is it at those moments, we think it will help get things done by nagging and reminding and sometimes even raising our voices? Does this ever really work? Of course not!! It just makes everyone upset as well as not getting whatever done. Just telling them once what needs to happen and then letting them take responsibility OR B doesn't happen saves my sanity. It keeps me from outwardly getting upset and engaging in conflict. It does not keep them from getting upset when B doesn't happen, but it does seem to make A happen faster the next time.
It's a lot about letting the child experience natural consequences, especially if something is really only a molehill.
That leaves you the opportunity to focus your energy on the things that are truly MOUNTAINS in your life.
Before working on behavior, make sure you have a great connection. And, practice the ABCs: "show unconditional acceptance, emphasize Belonging in your family, and spur your child on to Competence?"
I try to keep the Top 10 Countdown where I can refer to it frequently and I can always reread the book whenever I find myself needing a refresher. It is on my Kindle so it is usually with me. The biggest thing to remember is that it is really about changing myself and my reactions. Which is good, because the only person I can change is ME. :)
Here is the Top Ten Countdown to Having a New Kid By Friday by Dr. Kevin Leman
10. Be 100 percent consistent in your behavior.
9. Always follow through on what you say you will do.
8. Respond, don't react.
7. Count to 10 and ask yourself, "What would my old self do in this situation? What should the new me do?"
6. Never threaten your kids.
5. Never get angry. (When you do get angry, apologize quickly).
4. Don't give any warnings. (If you warn your child, you're saying, 'You're so stupid, I have to tell you twice.")
3. Ask yourself "Whose problem is this?" (Don't own what isn't yours.)
2. Don't think the misbehavior will go away.
1. Keep a happy face on, even when you want to , , , do something else.
Bottom line, Read This Book and try it out for yourself. Then, let me know how it works for you.
What parenting techniques do you use?
Do you find when you read about parenting that it's more about changing your child or changing your own reactions and behavior?
If you like reading my posts, please consider following me. It's an easy way to know when I've posted something new
Thanksgiving for today:
84. Recognition of how hard it is to be a Mom
85. Sleeping In ('til 7:00am :) )
86. Celebration Hymnal
87. Large number of kids in church
88. Making a joyful noise
89. Church service full of thanksgiving and praise
90. Children being comfortable enough to share mistakes
91. The right people in the right places at the right time
92. Eric having expertise in the needed areas
It's been awhile since I read it, so I'm not going to remember details. What I do remember is B doesn't happen until A is done. Now, that's no fun for anyone. Especially when you know it is something they would really like to do and that would even be good for them. Why is it at those moments, we think it will help get things done by nagging and reminding and sometimes even raising our voices? Does this ever really work? Of course not!! It just makes everyone upset as well as not getting whatever done. Just telling them once what needs to happen and then letting them take responsibility OR B doesn't happen saves my sanity. It keeps me from outwardly getting upset and engaging in conflict. It does not keep them from getting upset when B doesn't happen, but it does seem to make A happen faster the next time.
It's a lot about letting the child experience natural consequences, especially if something is really only a molehill.
That leaves you the opportunity to focus your energy on the things that are truly MOUNTAINS in your life.
Before working on behavior, make sure you have a great connection. And, practice the ABCs: "show unconditional acceptance, emphasize Belonging in your family, and spur your child on to Competence?"
I try to keep the Top 10 Countdown where I can refer to it frequently and I can always reread the book whenever I find myself needing a refresher. It is on my Kindle so it is usually with me. The biggest thing to remember is that it is really about changing myself and my reactions. Which is good, because the only person I can change is ME. :)
Here is the Top Ten Countdown to Having a New Kid By Friday by Dr. Kevin Leman
10. Be 100 percent consistent in your behavior.
9. Always follow through on what you say you will do.
8. Respond, don't react.
7. Count to 10 and ask yourself, "What would my old self do in this situation? What should the new me do?"
6. Never threaten your kids.
5. Never get angry. (When you do get angry, apologize quickly).
4. Don't give any warnings. (If you warn your child, you're saying, 'You're so stupid, I have to tell you twice.")
3. Ask yourself "Whose problem is this?" (Don't own what isn't yours.)
2. Don't think the misbehavior will go away.
1. Keep a happy face on, even when you want to , , , do something else.
Bottom line, Read This Book and try it out for yourself. Then, let me know how it works for you.
What parenting techniques do you use?
Do you find when you read about parenting that it's more about changing your child or changing your own reactions and behavior?
If you like reading my posts, please consider following me. It's an easy way to know when I've posted something new
Thanksgiving for today:
84. Recognition of how hard it is to be a Mom
85. Sleeping In ('til 7:00am :) )
86. Celebration Hymnal
87. Large number of kids in church
88. Making a joyful noise
89. Church service full of thanksgiving and praise
90. Children being comfortable enough to share mistakes
91. The right people in the right places at the right time
92. Eric having expertise in the needed areas
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Learning to Be Still
Read the beginning of the story at: http://angel-memoriesforgotten.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-beginning-of-slower-pace-of-life.html--PART 1
http://angel-memoriesforgotten.blogspot.com/2012/11/training-with-broken-leg.html--PART 2
http://angel-memoriesforgotten.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-pain-arrives.html--PART 3
Now I'm home with my leg in a boot, but it needs to be elevated and immobilized much of the time. What does this mean for me. It means when I'm in my chair I have my footplate on the right side which I discover makes it impossible for me to get as close to things as I used to.. When I don't have to be in my chair, I am on the couch with my leg elevated and iced much of the time. It's important to keep my leg as still as possible and put no weight on it. We don't want bones to shift and create even more of an issue than I already have. It means my independence is totally decreased. I must depend on others. I am so thankful I have others I can depend on.
I had been contacted by my college friend about the LeadHer program before I headed out for summer vacation and service dog training. I had left it that I would get back to her when I returned in July. Well, I did, and my time to sit gave me a lot of time to research this program. God's timing is so perfect. The May training video was titled "Be Still." Look at the time God gave me when I could do nothing but be still. Being still is HARD. I found myself wanting to fill my time on the couch with reading or researching stuff. And, that is all good stuff (if you're reading soul nourishing stuff). I read tons of great books during this summer and learned so much. But, sitting still and listening to God is HARD. Quiet is HARD. I feel like I should be doing something all the time and even when there are those who can do for me, it is still not easy and relaxing. My personality wants to do for myself. But, I couldn't. So, I learned to let go and let others do for me even if it wasn't the way I would have done it myself. I hope that's a lesson I learned that I will hold onto even when I can do more.
"God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It's a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God. It's a good thing when you're young to stick it out through the hard times. When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The "worst" is never the worst." Lamentations 3:25-30 MSG
I couldn't spend a lot of time blogging and sitting at my computer. That was frustrating for me and the reason I was absent for much of the summer. Healing takes energy. So, even though I already need a ton of sleep and a nap most every afternoon, I needed even more sleep. Who would have thought sitting on the couch doing nothing would wear me out? But it did, I spent much of the summer on the couch, much of it sleeping. Guess I should have expected my body to take energy from somewhere to knit bones together. Who knew?
But, I can do this. I should get the boot off and be back to normal life by the end of August.
TO BE CONTINUED . . .
What is it like for you to be still?
Have you ever been forced to be still?
How did you fill your time?
Do you practice being still on a regular basis?
If you like reading my posts, please consider following me. It's an easy way to know when I've posted something new
Thanksgiving for the day:
76. The joy of my son as he looks at his prize from Bingo last night
77. Amazon wish list
78. Happy sounds coming from kid's bedrooms
79, Our daughter asking to make dinner
80. No coat needed in mid-November
81. Being kicked out of my kitchen
82. Kids who "dress" for dinner
83. Candlelit dinner of pizza rolls and Dr. Pepper with china and long stem glasses and mood music
http://angel-memoriesforgotten.blogspot.com/2012/11/training-with-broken-leg.html--PART 2
http://angel-memoriesforgotten.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-pain-arrives.html--PART 3
Now I'm home with my leg in a boot, but it needs to be elevated and immobilized much of the time. What does this mean for me. It means when I'm in my chair I have my footplate on the right side which I discover makes it impossible for me to get as close to things as I used to.. When I don't have to be in my chair, I am on the couch with my leg elevated and iced much of the time. It's important to keep my leg as still as possible and put no weight on it. We don't want bones to shift and create even more of an issue than I already have. It means my independence is totally decreased. I must depend on others. I am so thankful I have others I can depend on.
I had been contacted by my college friend about the LeadHer program before I headed out for summer vacation and service dog training. I had left it that I would get back to her when I returned in July. Well, I did, and my time to sit gave me a lot of time to research this program. God's timing is so perfect. The May training video was titled "Be Still." Look at the time God gave me when I could do nothing but be still. Being still is HARD. I found myself wanting to fill my time on the couch with reading or researching stuff. And, that is all good stuff (if you're reading soul nourishing stuff). I read tons of great books during this summer and learned so much. But, sitting still and listening to God is HARD. Quiet is HARD. I feel like I should be doing something all the time and even when there are those who can do for me, it is still not easy and relaxing. My personality wants to do for myself. But, I couldn't. So, I learned to let go and let others do for me even if it wasn't the way I would have done it myself. I hope that's a lesson I learned that I will hold onto even when I can do more.
"God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It's a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God. It's a good thing when you're young to stick it out through the hard times. When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The "worst" is never the worst." Lamentations 3:25-30 MSG
I couldn't spend a lot of time blogging and sitting at my computer. That was frustrating for me and the reason I was absent for much of the summer. Healing takes energy. So, even though I already need a ton of sleep and a nap most every afternoon, I needed even more sleep. Who would have thought sitting on the couch doing nothing would wear me out? But it did, I spent much of the summer on the couch, much of it sleeping. Guess I should have expected my body to take energy from somewhere to knit bones together. Who knew?
But, I can do this. I should get the boot off and be back to normal life by the end of August.
TO BE CONTINUED . . .
What is it like for you to be still?
Have you ever been forced to be still?
How did you fill your time?
Do you practice being still on a regular basis?
If you like reading my posts, please consider following me. It's an easy way to know when I've posted something new
Thanksgiving for the day:
76. The joy of my son as he looks at his prize from Bingo last night
77. Amazon wish list
78. Happy sounds coming from kid's bedrooms
79, Our daughter asking to make dinner
80. No coat needed in mid-November
81. Being kicked out of my kitchen
82. Kids who "dress" for dinner
83. Candlelit dinner of pizza rolls and Dr. Pepper with china and long stem glasses and mood music
Friday, November 16, 2012
Danger of Social Media
Social media can be wonderful. I love the ability to connect instantly with friends and family around the world. When I have questions or want to talk to somebody, I can do it instantly. And, typing is way better than texting for me. But, there is a danger with social media. Since communication can be instant, sometimes you can post something without thinking it through or making sure it goes through internal filters. Some feelings are not meant to be shared with the world. Some thoughts, ideas, feelings should be sorted through privately and often in time with God before you share it with the world. Social media also lends itself to misinterpretation. Without the benefit of watching body language, facial gestures, and tone of voice--you may not always get what someone is really trying to say. Everyone lives with a set of social cues and things that are just understood in their neighborhood. Well, those don't easily transfer through social media. Sometimes, what can mean one thing in one part of the country means something entirely different in another part of the country. And, since social media instantly reaches all parts of the country/world, it is easy to be misinterpreted. So, what do we do about it? That's what I want to know from all of you. Please comment and let me know your ideas about how to make social media a positive experience for everyone.
What are your thoughts about social media?
If you like reading my posts, please consider following me. It's an easy way to know when I've posted something new
Thanksgiving for the Day
68. Knowing how to stretch out leg cramps
69. Azure bracing to help me transfer
70. Alarm clocks with snooze buttons
71. Christian music channel on TV
72. MP3 Player
73. Download able sermons
74. Fun family events put on my the PTO
75. Flashlights
What are your thoughts about social media?
If you like reading my posts, please consider following me. It's an easy way to know when I've posted something new
Thanksgiving for the Day
68. Knowing how to stretch out leg cramps
69. Azure bracing to help me transfer
70. Alarm clocks with snooze buttons
71. Christian music channel on TV
72. MP3 Player
73. Download able sermons
74. Fun family events put on my the PTO
75. Flashlights
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Success
"God doesn't require us to succeed; He only requires that you try."
Mother Teresa
If you like reading my posts, please consider following me. It's an easy way to know when I've posted something new
Thanksgiving for today:
65. Finding a youth group that "fits"
66. When technology works
67. Hearing good things about your children from others
Mother Teresa
If you like reading my posts, please consider following me. It's an easy way to know when I've posted something new
Thanksgiving for today:
65. Finding a youth group that "fits"
66. When technology works
67. Hearing good things about your children from others
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