Mom's top 20!

1. Follow Christ everyday and make sure your life reflects that you are a disciplined disciple.
2. Be good to your family. Make sure they are your first priority.
3. Love yourself. Love your neighbor as yourself. Don’t look to others for approval or love. Some people just don’t have the capacity to love others.
4. Truly love others and demonstrate this with acts of kindness and service.
5. Be kind with your words.
6. Hear and heed correction when it comes your way.
7. Don’t marry someone that is selfish or self centered.
8. Have a big family and raise them right.
9. Hang on to your money. Be a vigilant saver and a wise spender.
10. Stay out of debt.
11. Splurge once in a while. Your kids will be delighted.
12. Pay attention to your money. Know how much you have and how much it is earning. Educate yourself on investing. No one cares more about YOUR money than you do. Be careful whom you trust.
13. Don’t waste much time in front of a screen.
14. Work hard. Be polite. You will go far.
15. Eat your fruits veggies. Organic if possible.
16. Exercise and get some sunshine everyday. It will keep the blues away.
17. Count your blessings. Maintain a positive attitude.
18. Don't waste your time, effort, money, or emotional energy on people that don't appreciate you for what you are.
18. When going through troubles know that “this too shall pass.”
19. Take care of your stuff and don’t keep excess. Stuff can really burden your life.
20. Collect memories!

I wish you enough...

King Uzziah becomes King of Jerusalem when he was 16 years old. He started out as a good king. You will find his fascinating story in 2 Chronicles 26. The Bible describes King Uzziah’s life as: “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord … He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success”.

Things go along quite well. King Uzziah is a busy and successful man. The Chronicler describes his many activities which include successful military conquests, building towers, fortifying city walls, and building catapults. King Uzziah’s favorite activity was farming and the Bible describes him as “having much livestock in the foothills and the plain. He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil”.

But then things go south…”But after Uzziah become powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense”. This was a job that only the priests were to do in the temple. The priests confronted King Uzziah and asked him to “Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the Lord God”. King Uzziah gets really angry and while he “was raging at the priests…in the Lord’s temple leprosy broke out on this forehead”. Whoa! The King quickly leaves the temple now and spends the rest of his life living in a separate house as a leper.

It’s hard to stay focused on God when we have too much. So with this story in mind…
I wish you enough…

o I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
o I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
o I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
o I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
o I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
o I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
o I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

"...give me neither proverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say,'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God". Proverbs 30:8b-9

Yes...but

Have you ever prayed for someone that had a problem in their life that just never seemed to improve? Are you met with “Yes… but…” when you offer suggestions or good advice to this person? There are people who ask for healing, pray for healing, but don’t really want to be healed. I will share an entry from Dan Miller of 48 Days that is a great insight to this “problem person” (and “person with problems”) in your life.

"Sometimes there’s a comfortable misery in predictable, repeating failure.

There was a pool in Jerusalem near the sheep market that was believed to have special properties. The belief was that every so often, at an unexpected time, an angel would stir the water, and then whoever managed to jump in first would be healed. In John 5 in the Bible, we read where Jesus was walking by and heard the whining voice of a guy who had been coming there every day for 38 years. Jesus walked up to him and asked, “Wilt thou be made whole?” (Dude, do you want to get well?) The guy was probably offended and thought to himself “Of course I do. Haven’t I been coming here every day for 38 years?” (John 5: 5-9)

But we know Jesus could see through to the heart. The question was a legitimate one. “Do you want to get well?” I suspect that enjoying poor health, hanging around at the pool, receiving other people’s sympathy and handouts had become this guy’s profession. Of course he had reasons to complain. Can’t you see how bad things are? He had probably long since lost any hope of changing his situation and created his own private little welfare system.

Seeing into his heart Jesus said “Get up and walk!” A little confused by the authority the guy actually found out he could stand up and walk. Whoa! No more comfort of self-pity, no more sympathy from friends, no more of the predictable familiarity of justified whining and complaining. What do you suppose happened the next morning when this guy’s mom and day suggested he go out and get a job?

How many people do you know whose anger, resentment and “victim” mentality has become their identity? “If I got a job, my disability checks would stop.” “If it weren’t for this pain in my leg, I’d be willing to go to work.” “You know the economy is bad-there aren’t any jobs available.” “I’m suing the company because they fired me after only four days of being late.” Not everyone who is “down and out” wants their life to change. There’s safety in being down and out. The real test and responsibility come with being healthy and well. Thus the question, “Wilt thou be made whole?”

Sometime I fear we sabotage our own success because the familiarity of the known is more comfortable than the uncertainty of the unknown possibilities. If you were offered the chance for a better future, would you take advantage of it? Is there any “sickness” that you are hanging on to?"

Priorities

What are your priorities? Do you know? In other words what is most important in your life? You need to have this one correct in your life because it has very long term effects.

Here are some examples of wrong priorities:
A minister that values the needs of his church over his children's needs.
A husband that values only his wife's beauty.
A father or mother that climbs the company ladder at the expense of their children.
A parent that allows a hobby or interest to take priority over their family.
A missionary that sets aside their own children's needs for the needs of others they are bombarded with.
A wife that simply pursues material possessions and gets caught up in "keeping up with the Jones".
A father that wants to make his child a sports star at all costs.


Our priorities determine how we spend our time and money. This has a huge impact on how we live our lives.

The Bible gives us clear guidance on this question in these two statements.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind".
"Do unto others as you would be done by and love your neighbor as yourself".

First we should love God.
Second we are to love ourselves.
Third we are to love others.

Loving God with our heart, soul, and mind gives us a worldview that is larger than ourselves. Our human perspective is very, very, limited and it would be easy for us to fall into a hedonistic*, self-centered lifestyle.
* hedonist- living for pleasure, seeking self gratification.

Loving ourselves does not give us permission to simply live for our own selfish interests. However, loving oneself is quite necessary for us to be able to love others. Self hate leads to a crippled life complicated by self-doubt, guilt, and an unhealthy body. We are UNABLE to serve others if we do not love ourselves.

Loving others is a great investment. Our families should be the number one "others". Your children will know where your heart is. Missing this one has very long term consequences. If you love God and take care of yourself you will be able to raise children that will put God first in their lives and love God with their heart soul and mind.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well". Matthew 6:33

Weird things my Mom says and what they mean...

Look before you leap.
Spend a lot of time with your intended before you marry him or her. The rest of your life is a long time and divorce is very, very messy.

Check out the pros and cons of a job before you take it.

Do some independent research before you invest your hard earned money.

A stitch in time saves nine.
Fix it now or it will be a bigger repair later (and cost more money).

Fish and company stink after three days.
Remember this one - especially if you're the guest! Your host will love you for it!

Big hat no cows.
Remember that the Jones' that live next door are probably in debt up to their eyebrows. Everybody that looks rich isn't.

A penny saved is a penny earned.
Every dollar you waste is a missed opportunity.

Sip all day get decay.
Lay off the sodas.

A man's work is from sun to sun but a woman's work is never done.
I am a mother of four ... do I need to explain this one??

Fools names are like their faces always appearing in public places.
Thou shalt not scribble your name, or phone number or anything else on the bathroom door.

Make new friends but keep the old - one is silver and the other is gold.

Get a job.
You'll do yourself a favor.

Idle hands are the devil's tools.
Kids and adults without responsibilities are likely to find trouble.

Get out of bed. Get busy.
Don't let life's difficult circumstances stop you from being productive.

Turn off the TV / computer / video game.
Do you have a life or are you watching someone else have a life?

Get a life.
Accomplish something that is tangible. Definition of tangible: something that can be touched, something that is real. For example: knit a scarf, plant a garden, or give the dog a bath. Sorry, high score on a video game does not count!

Life is short.
Don't let another day go by without letting your family members know how much you love them.

Don't throw your pearls to swine.
You will encounter those who will not listen to wisdom. When you meet mockers and scorners don't waste your time, energy or wisdom on them.

Work real hard for about ten years and you'll be an overnight success.

You reap what you sow.
If you sow stupid you'll reap desperate.
If you sow a plan and work hard you'll reap success.

Brainy, Bright, and Interesting kids

As you plan your children's activities this summer I think that it is important for your kids to have a good mix of different kinds of activities. Those children that only play sports or video games are missing out on using all areas of their brains. Music, sports, arts and crafts, games, gardening, and reading are all fun activities that will exercise different parts of their brain and will help children develop into smart and interesting people.

Remember it is the process not the product that is important here. So let them sing off-key (loudly), scribble away, and strike out. It's all good even if they do it badly. You're seeing to it that your kids are using all of their gray cells by stimulating different parts of their brains.

Thought for Mom and Dad... how are you doing in this area? It's important for parents to have a mix of activities too. Don't become a workaholic or a mono-hobbyist. Life will be more fun for you too.

Tightwad

Yes. I admit it. I am very, very frugal.

I will share a story out of my life. My oldest daughter is very artistic. For her 24th birthday she wanted the whole family to go to a ceramic shop and have each family member paint and glaze a cereal bowl for her. I must admit that I complained about how much this was going to cost and even tried to talk her out of such an expensive birthday treat. In the end I agreed and begrudgingly paid the bill.

As it turned out we had a fantastic afternoon as we painted and laughed together. I apologized to my daughter for complaining about how much it cost and told her it was a great birthday party.
The bowls turned out beautifully and she has a special bowl that reflects each family member's personality.

Two months later...
An uncle who attended the party passed away very unexpectedly at age 53. I almost missed making a very special family memory because I didn't want to spend the money. I am reminded of the story of the woman who poured the expensive perfume on Jesus' feet. She was rebuked by some of the disciples for wasting money that could be used to help the poor. Jesus replied " Leave her alone, Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me." Mark 14:6-7

Every day is a gift.

Farewell to Frosty... see you next year!

Just say "No"

Safety
Is your child on Facebook? If so you need to find out how much of your personal information your child has posted on the Internet. Some kids just post their name, address, phone number, cell phone number, and looking for a relationship without a second thought. Kids are often tricked into being friends with stalkers. Stalkers are very clever and have a million different ploys to become "friends" with your child.

Privacy
Parents that allow their children to be on social networks like Facebook, My Space, and Twitter need to be extremely vigilant about what is posted on social networking sites. I often hear parents defend their child's Facebook activity by telling me it is private and only open to their friends. First do you really know all of your child's Facebook friends? How much time do you have to monitor their social network activities? Second, there is nothing posted on the Internet that a smart stalker can't find out.

While you may think you are keeping track of what is going on another common trick is for kids to create two Facebook pages; one for their parents to see and one that the parents do not know about for their friends. Please be wise enough to recognize this as a possibility and don't get caught in the mentality that your child "would never do that". Check things out.

Bullying
When I taught high school I was shocked at the amount of bullying that occurred Facebook. People will say things on Facebook that they will never say to a person's face. Nice, student council type kids would find a victim and set up a group to pick on a fellow student. In a high school setting the victim has no place to hide from the wolf pack that surrounds them. Things spiral downward for the victim and the perpetrators don't get caught because they never quite cross the line of mentioning names or being libelous.

Sex
Many after school sexual encounters are set up on Facebook. Purchase parental controls for your computer and don't allow kids on the computer when you are not around to be the POS (parent over shoulder). Your kids will be annoyed but that is your job as a parent. Keep your kids accountable as to their whereabouts after school. Come home from work early occasionally just to check up on things.

Just say "No".
I do not think children should be allowed to have a Facebook page until they are in at least 11th grade. While this is very "uncool" it will save you a ton of headaches. By the time a child is in the upper high school grades most of the middle school meanness should be over. You still need to be very vigilant about how much information is posted and actively teach your student to be both safe and smart. You need to have a Facebook page yourself so that you can keep track of things.

A personal observation...
When my daughter was in 7th grade she really wanted a Face book page. We said "No". She was mad but life went on. Now she is a Freshman and still does not have a Facebook page. Recently a young 15 year old girl in a near by town was picked for lunch by a 19 year-old Facebook boyfriend. She did not return to school on time. She was sexually assaulted that afternoon and then showed up at school at 3:30. It was not the "lunch date" she had in mind. Our school superintendent talked to the students at our school about the dangers of Facebook. Our daughter, now convinced the parental units are not completely stupid came home and said "Mom, Dr. ____ talked to us about Facebook and he said the same things you do." While she won't admit it I saw the relief in her face. When the parent says "No" you are the bad, uncool guy and it takes the pressure off your student. Put up with the fuss your student will make and stand firm. It will pay off in a few years.

Valentines!

I have always enjoyed this cheerful little holiday in the middle of a long winter. I remember stopping at a little downtown bookshop when I was in high school and carefully picking out special Valentines for each of my family.

I recently ran across and old Valentine from my childhood. It was from Mrs. Marie. She was a sweet lady that lived in my neighborhood. She sent 100's of cards to many, many people. Her dinning room table was stacked with cards and she was always busy sending cards that cheered and encouraged everyone she knew. If you were sick you would be sure to get a card from Mrs. Marie.

Mrs. Marie remembered me on every holiday and every birthday. Mrs. Marie didn't just send me a card, she sent me a special card. The card in the photo has a miniature card inside for your doll. I always looked forward to Mrs. Marie's cards because they were special.

This dear lady was just an ordinary person but she touched the lives of all those around her. She invested in others and brightened many lives. Her investment in others was consistent and thoughtful. She was a sweet lady.

Please share your ideas for investing in others.

Homemade Ice Cream

For each person you will need:
1 quart size zip-lock bag
2 gallon size zip-lock bags
Ice (lots)
Rock salt
...and the recipe below:

Mix together:
2 quarts of whole milk
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of cream
2 teaspoons of vanilla
1 can Eagle Brand (the optional secret ingredient)

Pour 2 cups of the above mixture into a quart size freezer zip-lock bag. Seal tightly and squeeze out as much air as possible. Place this bag into gallon size zip-lock bag. Seal tightly and squeeze out as much air as possible. Place these two bags into another gallon size zip-lock bag. Fill this outer bag three quarters of the way with crushed ice. Sprinkle lots of rock salt over the ice and seal the ice bag tightly squeezing out as much air as possible. Wear mittens and shake the bag till your ice cream gets solid. Eat immediately! Enjoy!

Do you know where you are going?

Do you know what your destination in life is? Without a clear destination you will find yourself and your family wandering aimlessly through life or perhaps arriving at a place that you don't want to be. Having a purpose and a plan will help you get where you want to go.

I would invite you to develop a family mission statement. Your mission statement should reflect your goals, values, and morals. What are you trying to accomplish with your children? What will your children learn from you? What will your children teach your grandchildren? What will the great-grandchildren carry on? In the business of everyday life it is easy to forget that daily habits and attitudes can carry on far beyond your lifetime.

I want to leave this world a better place and I want my children to also make a positive contribution to others. Here is my family's mission statement:

Our family will strive to discover our God given gifts and talents. We will develop those gifts and use them to further God's kingdom in service to others.

Let the journey begin!

Winter Wonderland

My Velveteen Rabbit

This wonderful old rabbit was made by my dear Aunt Marie for my mother in about 1928. Aunt Marie was a wonderful seamstress and overall sweet lady who always had ALL her candy dishes full (and she had lots of them!).

Mr. Rabbit was loved and played with by two generations and he shows his age just like the Velveteen Rabbit. I sometimes feel like Mr. Rabbit worn old by life's wear and tear. I have had my share of troubles in life (as we all do) but I will have to say I have become WISE THROUGH MY WOUNDS.
Here are some things I learned the hard way:
In dealing with sickness, I learned empathy.
When I was unfairly imposed on by others, I learned to be unselfish.
When I was treated badly, I learned to establish emotional boundaries.
When I failed, I learned to be humble and depend on God not my own resources.

The lessons of life leave us battered and wounded but they also leave a treasure trove of wisdom.

Please share a piece of wisdom you learned during a hard time.

The 100 year plan

Father time... He is relentless in his march forward. How should we be spending our precious family time? What will count for something in 100 years? It easy to get caught up in the rush of life and forget to "stop and smell the roses" together. The perspective of 100 years makes baking cookies seem a lot more important.

What do you think?

Passing the baton....

I have been giving a lot of thought to what is really important in life. I am old enough that most of the older generation has passed away. While I miss them I also realize that I have the opportunity to pick and choose what I carry on to the next generation. What did the older generation leave behind? What things should be deleted and not passed to the next generation? What things should be kept and nurtured for future generations? As I look back on the legacy that was left to me I realize that some of the most meaningful things are very, very simple. To list a few of the positive things that meant a lot:

*phone calls just to see how we were doing
*little hand-made gifts
*cookies
*making a favorite food for a family gathering
*sharing a recipe
*laughing
*doing fun things together like picnics or hot dog roasts

How do you carry love forward to the next generation?

Mr.Ugly Pumpkin

Backyard Bounty

Look what's hiding in the Rose of Sharon

Magenta Petunias

Black-eyed Susans