Family Fun as school ends
School has ended for some and will do so shortly for others. My youngest son really liked celebrating with a party and having a few friends over each year. He wanted to relax, jump for joy, and pig out.Celebrate that ending. It’s also a transition as your child moves on to a new grade (or repeats the grade with lots more knowledge). Here are some ideas:Scrapbook a page with journaling about the best lessons learned and achievements. Add a photo with the report card or a memento of the school year.Celebrate with a party.
- Having a moving on up Sundae contest of building a Sundae skyscraper or building a tall sandwich.
- Take photos with report cards. Praise your child with a letter expressing admiration for their effort and accomplishments.
- Use the number of the next grade as the theme. That could be 3, 12, or 1. Do as many activities as the number.
- Let each person suggest a great book to read over the summer.
- Let everyone name a great web site to visit over the summer.
- Chill out and don’t worry about thinking to much.
- Shout and jump for joy. See who jumps the highest and shouts the loudest!
Increasing in Him,
Karen
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When problems seem to go on and on
My Dad has been in the hospital for a few months now with little change. We’ve also had ongoing prayer concerns for a number of years with no answer. In the past we’ve also seen the Lord take a few years to answer other prayers in the past. It can seem so hard to hang on in faith and no be discouraged at those times.
I’ve learned to not focus on my problems, but to be grateful for little blessings, other prayer answers, and the love of God and my family and friends.
I’m driving back and forth to Ct a few times a month (from Maryland) to be with Dad and splitting my time. It is draining, but I know it makes a difference to him. I also know my husband has been very understanding and we took a weekend to get away and have time for us (actually stayed at a friend’s home).
If, my dear friends, you are salso in the midst of a long ordeal with no end in sight, I’d be happy to pra for you. It’s so nice that it is spring and flowers are blooming to remind us that seasons do change and there will be fresh prayer answers in God’s timing. It helps to return to my prayer journal and see how God has answered so many past prayers (although one prayer of four years is still a major concern regarding one of our children’s job/financial situations).
These are times I look at Eudoia and Psntcyhe in Philippians (the chapter on contentment). One name means good fortune (or blessing) and the other means good journey. It does seem that I’m either in the roll of one of those women or the other. Either I’m on a journey that seems hard (but is good as God is with me and using it) or I’m being blessed. Either time can grip me with fear that a journey will be too hard and long or the blessing won’t last. When on a journey it’s easy to look at smeone being blessed and feel pangs of jealousy. God’s words encourage us to live in harmony (verse 2). We are to be there for one another. If blessed, to share the blessings and comfrt the other from our past experience. If on the journey, to witness through our endurance and trust in the Lord.
So, if you are blessed today, rejoice and share your joy!
If you are on a hard journey, trust, recall past blessings, promises of future blessings, and lean on friends who are blessed.
Here’’s a link for anyone interested in book marketing.. It’s where I blog about books with other author friends:
<a href=”http://www. canblog.typepad.com/canbookmarketing/.com”>
Increasing in Him,
Karen
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Stop, look, and listen!
We need to take time and focus when we are with someone, especially our children and our spouse.
When a child or your hubby speak, stop and pause.
Look at the person’s eyes and expression.
Try and look into their heart.
Listen with your heart.
I always practiced the stop, look, and listen with my kids. Most of them are grwon now, but we stay connected and they all take time to call and chat with me, visit when they can (and we are miles apart), and they still know that I do listen and I care.
If you want your kids to care later and have a close family, it begins with how well you listen while they are little.
This past week I had my son, his wife, and two of my grandchildren visiting as well as another son and his wife. I still tried to have time to listen to each one. I especially took time to listen to my two year old grandson and look at his wondrous smiles and curious looks as he made new discoveries. My son always says I’m his favorite grandparent-I play with him, but mostly I ry and listen.
My little granddaughter is only 9 months and had a rough time away from the familiar surroundings of her own home. It took until the last day to have her feel comfy around me and to have her relaxed as I held her. I tried to be gentle and take my time letting her look at me and get to know me. I think she was more relaxed arounf her uncle James because he has visited her at her home a few times. This was my first time to see her (had so many family trips for weddings and my Dad has been in the hospital for so long that I have not been able to fly to California to see Lily).
And that does bring me to my Dad. He is in thehospital. He always had time for me and I am still his little girl. He has had a hard time with pneumonia at age 82. They keep switching him around in the hospital and that gives him new sets of doctors. It seems as soon as he is okay he is switched and new nurses get doctors to once again give him sedatives. Then my brother and I agaiin pressure doctors to take him off the sedatives and he starts to become alert again. When I can be there I spend six hours a day in his hospital room just being there. listening when he talks, and gently bringing him back to reality as the sedativs dope him up and give him dreams and nightmares. It’s a long haul, but for now that’s one person God wants me to stop, look, and listen to.Who needs your attention today? Make a difference by giving them your focus.
Increasing in Him,
Karen
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Little nuances
So often it’s the little touches and little thoughtful words that make a big difference is people’s lives.Consider taking minutes throughout the day to smile, compliment others (especially family members), call a friend, write a note, or tidy up a neglected area of your home. Today I prepared for my eldest son, his wife and two grandchildren to visit. I took the time to set out towels for them, buy a few little tub toys for the little ons, and have a basket of goodies put together for them all.  I also refreshed a basket of supplies for the bath in case anyone forgot something. They may not notice each thing I did, but I’m sure it will all make the stay easier.This is all part of how to sprinkle joy in someone’s day.  I find as I try and infuse joy into someone else’s life it brings a smile to my heart and brightens my day too.
Increasing in Him,
Karen
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Life interrupts
My dad has been in the hospital for the past month. He lives in CT and my brother lives in Ohio. I live in MD. And during part of that time I also had to be in Florida for two weddings, a TV appearance, and a writer’s conference. When emergencies or the unexpected happens it can make normal life more complex. And if you have a busy schedule it can add lots of stress.It takes having good support and being flexible. I made calls and had relatives visit Dad when I was in Flroida. I changed  my plans to shorten my time in Florida. I keep most of my writing in cyberspace, so I can continue what I’m doing from anywhere that has an internet connection. I have accounts online so I can pay bills when I’m away. Yes, it helps to have support. My brother and I tried to cover the time with Dad between us and that helped.  It also helped that I could quickly contact relatives who live near Dad.Online accounts help us be more flexible. It also helps to keep extra food on hand. When I left I knew my husband had food in the house to eat. I will return home next week as I have children coming around Easter and need to be ready for them. Some choices are difficult. It helps not to be guilty about what you cannot do and just do the best you can in unexpected circumstances.
Increasing in Him,
Karen
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Time cushions we need
I find I must not schedule all my time. I need time cushions. Those are empty times to relax, bounce back, or handle emergencies.
Last week I needed more than my normal time cushio that I make sure I keep in my days. My dad went in the hospital and I was getting ready to go to a wedding in Florida. I live in Maryland and Dad lives in Connecticut.I used that time cushion to call family in Connecticut so they could help out, visit him, and call him. I spoke with my son in the Boston area, and his wife, and they had time to go see Dad after my older brother would go there. I also know that when my speaking trip to Florida is done on March 3rd I will need to see Dad. It meant I did not blog here last week and I gave up a few trips to the gym. I’m glad I had time cushions or it might have been difficult to still fit in things I needed to do (like article deadlines).
I am already juggling things to be sure I can see him and still meet deadlines. Sometimes that means that other things must be eliminated from the schedule. Other times it means I must give up precious free time to meet needs of loved ones.
Remember to build in cushions of time. Hopefully most of them will be for th=at relaxing cup of tea, a chat with a friend, or to sit and do nothing as you recharge.
Increasing in Him,
Karen
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Ash Wednesday
It’s already lent and we wonder where the time has gone since Christmas and the New Year.
It’s good to have these spiritual markers of special days to wake us up to how fast time passes and remind us to have time for God and family. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of a journey into the heart of God, into the time Jesus took the road to Calvary and died for us. It is an opportunity for us to connect to God and help our family connect to God.
Various church denominations have different practices, all aimed at helping people remember the sacrifice Christ made. It’s not the practice or tradition, but our hearts that matter most. Choose how you will reflect on Jesus during lent and make it time to reflec. Don’t llet it become a habit, like giving up an hour of TV a day, but let it make a difference.
Whether you get ashes on your forehead or not doesn’t change what Jesus did. The ashes are an outward sign of our inward sin and our own mortality.
Look at the coming days as a good journey and spend a little time each day reading from the gospels as a family. Get to know Jesus and his great love.
Increasing in Him,
Karen
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Time management teleseminar
I’ll be on a teleseminar on Feb 18th (check my appearance page on the main site).
I will talk about how we are charging our time ahead of the days/months and getting into time debt. We need to learn to say no and to put ourselves on a time budget (limiting how much you can charge ahead).
Increasing in Him,
Karen
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Slowing down at Christmas
Christmas is only days away and many people are racing to get ready. Really, only one thing is necessary and that’s to celebrate Christ’s birth. All the wrappings, trims, and gifts are nice, but not the big deal.
So, if you are not all done shopping, write promise notes instead and shop later.
If you’re not done cooking, keep things simpler. Don’t worry of you don’t have all the same things as in past years. Start to alternate what you serve each year. We eat too much during the holidays anyway.
If all the decorations aren’t done, let decorating be part of your party or celebration. And don’t worry about having it all up. Again, consider alternating years and put some things up each year.
If cards are not all written, consider writing a New Year card and calling people over the next month instead of sending cards. It’s the relationships you want to keep going, not the traditions.
Increasing in Him,
Karen
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