Giving Valentines Any Day

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I know a lot of people who do not like Valentine's Day.  They dread it.  If they are single they may think it is a day to point out that they don't have a "Valentine".  They watch others getting gifts (which might be being given more out of obligation than desire), and feel cheated, or passed over, or unloved, or hopeless.  It is sad.  I also know people who are grumpy at the obligation they feel to give a gift, or plan an activity for that day.  It maybe feels forced, and it seems to many that women benefit a lot more than men.

It would be good to keep in mind that no holiday (that I know of) was created, or is kept to make someone feel bad, or grumpy.  They are usually in place to help us remember something or someone important.  And there is more than one definition for a Valentine.  One, from the Mirriam-Webster dictionary is "something expressing uncritical praise or affection."  We can give uncritical praise and affection any day.

I think trying to give as much uncritical praise and affection as I can on Valentine's day sounds like a happy way to spend the day.  And I like that I have lots of days before Valentine's Day to practice!

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

Three Things I Like About Doing Laundry

I took this picture on Tuesday.
It's a lot better than sometimes!

Most Mondays, if you were to show up in the morning or early afternoon, you would find me doing laundry.  Piles and piles of laundry.  Here's what I like about doing laundry.

1.  On laundry day, after I sort the clothes into their baskets, I can actually walk into the laundry room without tripping on anything!  It's the one time during the week that I can probably close the door without shoving some baskets out of the way, and when I walk in, I don't have to traipse through empty baskets (or move them) to get what I want!

2.  I have always liked the sound of laundry machines.  Particularly dryers.  I find it soothing.  And dryers are warm.  I like warm.

3.  I have learned to either pile all the clean clothes up when they are dry and then put in something I want to watch while I fold, or I fold it a basket at a time in my room, and listen to something I want to listen to.  It gives me something to look forward to!

Trying to Eat Better -- Again

If someone put this out for me every day I'd eat a lot more salad!
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Yesterday I was trying to come up with a system for planning meals that is easy, and I thought of one!  And then, I realized that I had thought of it before, and even used it for a while.  Alas, I've had a few "systems" and they work for a while, and then I just don't want to.  I get too tired, or the food doesn't sound like what I want that day, or whatever.

What brought on my sudden desire to eat better?  Two things really.  First, Dan eats way too much "circle chicken" and the Jake and Derek and I eat eggs or sandwiches a lot.  We could use some more variety. Second, Dan has second lunch at school which starts at 12:25 p.m.  That is about 6 hours after Dan has breakfast and he burns up his not very healthy breakfast really fast, and is left a bit light headed or dizzy before lunch arrives -- even with fruit snacks in between classes. 

Besides all of that, I think we would have less colds and asthma trouble at our house if we ate better.  So, here's to trying to eat better.  Again.

***Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash

Puppets Giving Cheerfully

Sunday in Primary (the organization for children) we mostly sang, but I did take ten minutes to teach the children that "God loveth a cheerful giver."  This was one of those times when they learned by watching puppets.  Princess, the Baker and Bright (the cheerleader) gave some examples.  The children and the adults pay really good attention when the puppets visit, and there is a lot of giggling, but hopefully at least a little learning too.

For one scenario the Princess was selfish with her toys.  In the next example she was happy to share and the two puppets played together instead of fighting.  Naturally, the kids found it obvious when the Princess was being a cheerful giver and when she wasn't.  They easily knew she was having more fun when she was sharing. 

My favorite though was when the baker really needed help stirring things because he couldn't stir all of the bowls at once.  I asked all of the kids to say no when he asked them for help.  Hee hee.  They wanted to help so badly that some of them just couldn't do it.  If only it was as easy for them to share with siblings and help parents as it is for them to help the puppets!  I imagine they do pretty well though.  They are good little people!  They do enjoy it when the puppets are naughty the most, but hopefully they act more like the cheerfully giving puppets!

Intentional Possibilities

Teddy was looking for treats among the balls because of a game
Kayli played with him.  (He was intentionally looking because of the possibility of a treat :-)

I love the word intentional almost as much as I love the word possibilities.  I love the word possibilities because, when I feel stuck, it is helpful for me to know and believe that there are possibilities.  Things that will help me get unstuck.  I might not know what those possibilities are, but if I believe there are some, it makes a difference and makes them easier to find.

I love the word intentional because I like the idea of intentional living.  Of being careful to notice if I'm falling into bad patterns, and if I do get to feeling stuck, intentionally looking for the possible ideas or actions that will help me, and intentionally ordering my life in the healthiest, happiest way I know how.

These things aren't necessarily easy, but the word possibilities reminds me that there are options, and the word intentional reminds me that I have a lot of control over my life, and what I choose to do with it.

A Concert In The Park

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I meant to take pictures, but I mean to do a lot of things and they don't always happen!  Yesterday was the Harvest Moon Hurrah in Spanish Fork and so the orchestra I am in went to play 3 numbers.  We got there early and, much to my delight, the Spanish Fork community choir was singing and my brother-in-law Russell was in the group.  Not only that, but for one song, he got to do a solo where he was dressed as the Greatest Showman and he had a microphone and was out singing among the crowd.  I think he is brave because that would scare me, but I imagine that, even with his excellent singing skills, he was nervous too.  But he did it!  I don't think we always have to do things that are hard for us, but I think it is good to push ourselves out of our comfort zone every now and then because I believe it helps us grow.

When it was our turn we played our first two numbers fine, but then we started the third number, and we were NOT together.  Our conductor stopped us, and said, "Let's try that again".  We played it well that time, and I think it is good for people to see that everyone goofs up now and then, and it is okay to start again.  And, if we couldn't have started again, then it would have been okay to do our best, even if it didn't turn out like we hoped.  We can't expect to be perfect every time.

It was a beautiful, chilly day in the park.  My sister-in-law Erin found me before the orchestra went on and gave me a hug.  I got to talk to some of her kids.  When we got done playing Erin and her kids were standing in a group cheering for me.  Having people be happy to see me, and supportive of my efforts no matter how imperfect, makes me happy and I am thankful they stayed to listen.

***Photo by Sergiu Vălenaș on Unsplash

Compulsive Asking

Have you ever prayed and felt like you spent the whole time begging God to help in some way, or solve some problem, or .....???  I know that it is okay to ask God for help, but sometimes I feel like I do it without really thinking.  I don't take the time to think of how I want Him to help.  I may have a whole list of who I want Him to help, but what exactly is it I hope He will do? 

I do chuckle to myself sometimes about how many times we pray for safety "on the way home".  I think we are worried about crashing a lot!  Or physical pain.  But the help we really need is the help that will get us to our heavenly home! Still, when we pray for safety, do we follow it up with a prayer of gratitude upon arriving safely?

Sometimes we even say prayers asking God to help us know how we can help someone, which I think is great.  But if I never think of that person the whole day, and contemplate on my own how I can help, is an idea really going to come?

I am supposing this is why people keep prayer journals.  To think of who needs their prayers, and what a good prayer for them might be.  And to write down when answers come, so that they can remember and be grateful.  Taking the time to be grateful to God before we ask for something is helpful, but I really want to work on being more deliberate and less compulsive in my asking!

CALM

Clouds on the mountains behind my neighbor's houses.

In the book Anxious For Nothing Max Lucado has an acronym that is meant to help us remember how to live with less anxiety.

Celebrate God's Goodness
Ask God for help
Leave concerns with Him
Meditate on good things

 In Philippians 4:4 it says, "Rejoice in the Lord always:  and again I say Rejoice."  This is where the idea of celebrating God's goodness came from, and I like the question asked in the book.  "How will you express your joy for God's goodness today." 

In order to express my joy in God's goodness, I have to take the time to think about the fact that He is good!  This morning is a gray, rainy, chilly morning -- and I love sunshine.  But I also love the gray clouds that sit on top of the mountains hiding the peaks.  I like that God watered my garden this morning and so I don't have to.  The air is chilly, but it is fresh, and smells good.  There are many ways that God is good, and so there is plenty to celebrate if I focus on those things!

Plum Lack of Motivation

Our plum tree was very motivated to make plums!

I was semi motivated and made some plum leather, and dried plums, and Jake got some ready for freezing.

I have a plum lack of motivation to finish these -- though I plan on giving it a go.
But the ones on the tree are up for grabs if you live close by.
Bring your own bag or bucket.
Maybe warn me so Teddy won't be outside to bark at you.
He sounds scary when he barks.

Grateful For Growing Boys

Dan and Jake and Me

I am feeling sleepy, but I was thinking how much worse it would be if I didn't have boys that get up on their own and get ready for school.  I show up in the last five minutes before they have to leave to catch the bus to see them off.  I am SO grateful for that extra 45 minutes of sleep!  Yay for boys who are doing a good job of taking responsibility for themselves!

Resilience

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This morning during physical therapy the therapist asked me what ideas I have about teaching kids to be resilient.  Mostly I could think of what I have learned (mostly) not to do.  Don't speak for the children.  Don't take over things they should be responsible for.  Don't do all the work myself.  I think these are important, but I also think there are things that are important that hopefully I've been better at.  Do create a home where your children feel safe and loved.  Do help them be grateful.  And, do help them learn that they can do things that will lift and help those having struggles.

Life is tricky, and I always want to help my children, but if I always bail them out of difficult situations I will rob them of learning experiences that give them stories to laugh about later, and that help them know they can do hard things.

***Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Monday Morning Gratitude List

Some of my fake flowers :-)

1.  Blankets and pillows
2.  The song "Morning Has Broken" that I like to listen to in the mornings.
3.  Hugs
4.  Cereal and milk
5.  Washing machines to do the hard work of getting the clothes clean.
6.  The sun peeking up from behind the mountains.
7.  Jackets to help me stay warm.
8.  Flowers -- even the fake ones
9.  The couch recliner and my chromebook so I can type in comfort :-)
10.  Kayli's dog Teddy who comes to sit by me every morning.
11.  Morning family prayer to start the day remembering our blessings and who is watching over us.

What I Might Be

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"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be."

Lao Tzu

Have you ever held on to some characteristic of yours as if it defines you? I was thinking of Mrs. Lynde in "Anne of Green Gables"  who was "known around these parts as someone who speaks her mind."  She loved speaking her mind, even if her opinion was unkind or inaccurate.  She felt she was right in her opinions and it was "ok" to tell everyone bluntly what she thought because that was just how she was.  But what if she had let go of being that person, and chose to be someone who only speaks kindness?  She would have done more good and it would have made her less lonely!  Since Mrs. Lyne was a fictional character though, I am glad she was written as she was because it made the story more interesting!

***Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash