Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Helpful Tip Tuesday: 5 Puzzling Questions to Consider


 *Why is it so difficult to realize that others are more likely to  listen to us if first we listen to them?

* Why is it so much easier to be negative than positive?

* Why is it so difficult to motivate ourselves when we know that results come only through motivation?

* Why is it so difficult to say thank you to someone when those are two of our own favorite words to hear?

* Why do we dread adversity when we know that facing it is the only way to become stronger, smarter, better?

~taken from Wooden by Coach John Wooden with Steve Jamison

Monday, October 29, 2012

As I Grow


As I Grow

Please...

Understand that I am 
growing up and changing
very fast. It must be difficult to keep pace with
me, but please try.

Listen to me and give me 
brief, clear answers to my
questions. Then I will keep 
sharing my thoughts and
feelings.

Reward me for telling the
truth. Then I am not 
frightened into lying.

Tell me when you make
mistakes and what you
learned from them. Then I
can accept that I am OK,
even when I blunder.

Pay attention to me, and
spend time with me. Then I
can believe that I am
important and worthwhile.

Do the things you want
me to do. Then I have a 
good, positive model.

Trust and respect me.
Even though I am smaller
than you, I have feelings
and needs just like you.

Compliment and
appreciate me. Then I'll 
feel good, and I'll want to
continue to please you.

Help me explore my
unique interests, talents 
and potential. In order for
me to be happy, I need to be
me, and not you or someone
you want me to be.

Be an individual and
create your own happiness.
Then you can teach me the 
same, and I can live a 
happy, successful and
fulfilling life.

~Helene Rothschild


Thursday, October 18, 2012

Quote on True Friendship


"True friendship is a sacred, important thing, and it happens when we drop down into that deeper level of who were are, when we cross over into the broken...fragile parts of ourselves. We have to give something in order to get friendship like that. We have to give up our need to be perceived as perfect. We have to give up our ability to control what other people thing of us. We have to overcome the fear that when they see the depths of who we are, they'll leave. But what we give up is nothing in comparison to what this kind of friendship gives us. Friendship is about risk. Love is about risk. If we can control it and manage it and manufacture it, then it's something else. But if it's really love, really friendship, it is a little scary around the edges."

~As quoted in Friendships for Grown-Ups, pg.142

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Helpful Tip Tuesday: Homemaking


"A Calling to Be Queen 
(...of the Home)

1. Homemaking is a priority-I love Titus 2:3-5 because it so clearly spells out God's will for my life (and yours, too!) as a Christian woman.

2. Homemaking is a privilege-Being a queen is a privilege...just as "making" and "building" a home is a privilege.

3. Homemaking is about people-Home is a place where people live.

4. Homemaking is also about a place-A model home has no people. That's true. But it's also true that if there are people living in your house, then you should make that place a lovely home, a place for your loved ones.

5. Homemaking is a passion-not a prison.

6. Homemaking is a profession-As we all know, homemaking is a challenging and diverse career in itself.

7. Homemaking is a matter for prayer-The simple act of praying for our "palace" and our homemaking and for the loved ones for whom we are "making" the home transforms our physical efforts into a great spiritual work with eternal value.

8. Homemaking is permanent-Our high calling to homemaking is not only an important calling, but it is a permanent calling. Why? Because wherever you are, that's where your home is.

9. Homemaking sets a pattern-Titus 2:3-5 tells us what the older women are to do-they are to teach "good things" and train and model for others what a godly woman is and what a godly woman does.

10. Homemaking is a practice-and is to be practiced. An excellent (and encouraging!) time-management principle is "repetition is the mother of skill."

~taken from A Woman's High Calling by Elizabeth George

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Helpful Tip Tuesday: Kids and Their Stuff

"Life Skills Checklist

*Do my children have too much clothing or too many toys or too many saved papers?

*Is the closet arranged so my child can hang up her own clothing? Are my child's drawers organized and not too crammed? If my child needs it, have I placed picture labels on the appropriate drawers? Do my children each have their own laundry basket?

*Do I have an organized place for out-of-season clothing, and do I regularly go through this storage area to keep it weeded out?

* Do we have a system for rotating toys so the children don't have too much out at one time? Do we periodically give away toys to someone who can use them? Do my children have a place for books and papers?

*Have we thought of a creative way to deal with items left lying around the house, like a confiscation box? 

*Does my older child understand why it is important to be organized? Has he spent time thinking about the best ways to organize his room and belongings? Do I regularly declutter with my child, helping him to sort and prioritize his possessions?"

~taken from Life Skills for Kids by Christine M. Fields, pg. 149