Just a Spoonful of Sugar by Leigh Ann Napier

“Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down…in the most delightful way.” Wise words from Mary. I have plenty of “medicine” in my life. Meaning things I know need to get done but I just don’t want to do them.

For me the worst dose would have to be cleaning. That is something that I really don’t enjoy. There are so many things I want to do with my days and spending it with a mop and a bottle of Fantastic just isn’t on my list.

So I have a choice to make, several options actually. I could:

1. Hire someone to do that for me
2. Complain and grumble while cleaning
3. Not clean and live in a pig sty
4. Find a way to make it less awful

I’m on a mission to pick #4 until the day I can convince my hubby to agree to #1. By the way, if you are in the #1 category, I’m a teensy bit jealous. Hope you are counting that as one of your blessings in life.

Let’s take a look at how I could carry out #4 Finding a way to make it less awful, that would prevent me from doing #2 Complaining and grumbling while I clean. Finding a way to make it less awful is my goal, not to be Martha Stewart.

So, what does a spoonful of sugar look like when applied to cleaning toilets. Here are some suggestions:

• Play music or a book on tape while you work
• Enlist your children to help with a treat planned when finished
• Use a timer: Set it for 15 minutes, quit when it goes off. More than likely I will want to finish up what I am doing, but I am CHOOSING to continue at that point rather than feeling forced. The main point is: GET GOING
• Touch things only once. For example, sort mail near the recycler then either toss it, file it, or put it in an action box.

As I mentioned before, I do not ever desire to win a Good Housekeeping award. But I do want to do what God has given me to do with the best attitude possible. He loves a cheerful giver, and your family will too.

For more tips on getting your house in order, check out this great website http://www.flylady.net/ It is full of information to help you organize your home.

So two questions for you:

#1 What is the “medicine” in your life?

#2 Would you share a tip on how you can sweeten the experience?

This is my second entry of what I learned while watching Mary Poppins with my little girl. If you missed the first one, “Enough is as Good as a Feast” read the previous blog entry.

Check out Leigh Ann's bio at: http://www.ibloom.us/associates/leighann.html

Click here to leave a comment.

Enough Is As Good As a Feast by Leigh Ann Napier

“Enough is as good as a feast.” Mary Poppins explains to little Michael and Jane. I doubt the wisdom of these words sank into their developing minds. But if it did…what a difference it would make!

I never thought watching Mary Poppins with my 2 ½ year old would turn out to be a learning experience! But it did. My grandfather used to always tell me that everyone knows at least something you don’t, so listen up and you might learn something.

Well I must have had my listening ears on during the movie. My daughter was a little aggravated when I got up to grab my notebook though. My husband looked at me as if to say, "Really? You’re going to take notes while watching Mary Poppins?" Oh well, if I don’t write my notes down as they come, they could be lost forever. I always keep a pen and paper close by.

Back to what I learned from Mary. Enough is as good as a feast. How much my life would improve if I just took that to heart. Stopping at enough or being content with enough would be so freeing, wouldn’t it? I could:

· Put down the fork when I’m full

· Have boundaries around my work hours

· Maybe down-size my home (which we did)

· Reduce the number of activities kids are involved with (not there yet, but see the temptation ahead)

· Less time on Facebook in exchange for more face time with my family and friends

So how would that improve my life?

· Shed some pounds

· have more time to spend with family

· less house to clean, less mortgage to pay

· more free time

· life at a more relaxed pace.

I feel calmer just writing this!

If you want to join me on the less is more mission, I would recommend you read Making Room For Life by Randy Frazee. Can’t say enough good things about it.

We are in this together, so please take a minute and share a time about simplifying. Just click on "comments" below.

Click here to leave a comment.

Coaching Kids in Meaningful Gift-Giving by Betsy Ringer

Have you ever been disappointed that your family FORGOT your birthday, Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day?  Or they just didn’t do what you were hoping they would do?  May I pass on some words of wisdom?  Coach them in the art of gift-giving.  When it involves giving to others, you can coach them.  AND you can enlist your husband, friend or relative to coach them for YOU!!  Mother’s Day is coming up so why not help your husband help your kids give you a meaningful gift.  Here are some ideas of inexpensive but meaningful gifts that you can help your kids make for others or your husband can help them make for YOU.  The idea is to teach kids how to honor people who are valuable in their lives.

1. Create a MOM poster.  Kids cut out words and pictures from magazines that remind them of things they love about Mom.  Glue them on some cardboard.  You can even frame it. When they present it they can elaborate on why they chose the words and pictures!
2. Write and perform a song that lets Mom know just how special she is.
3. Get bulletin board paper from the teacher store and make a huge sign about how great Mom is and put it up on the garage where everyone in the neighborhood can see.
4. Put fun and complimentary messages on little pieces of paper.  Put each in a different balloon and have helium put in them.  Make a balloon bouquet.  Tell Mom at the end of the day she will have to pop the balloons and read the messages inside.
5. Create a short book that has on each page a reason you love your mom.  Draw a picture to go along with it.  
6. Another book idea - this time have everyone in the family contribute.  Write out good memories - funny things that happened with the family, fun activities, embarrassing moments, and other great things you experienced together.  Draw a picture or find a picture to glue in the book.  
7. Research some yummy recipes online and bake a meal or at least a dessert!
8. Okay, so this one cost money.  But we LOVE to see that bag from the Brighton store.  Pick out anything from that store and we will love it - and they wrap it so pretty!

My personal favorite gifts from my kids include: 

• A book my older son made where he drew a picture on each page and wrote a caption about something he liked about me or what we did together - yes, I treasure it still! 
• My second son drew a portrait of me when he was 6 years old. I was dressed in an evening gown at the playground - what a woman!  Yes, it is FRAMED!
• My daughter wrote a song and sang it for me - yes, I cried!

Over the years I have treasured going on our first picnic and hike of the season on Mother’s Day.  I love having the family together! I have loved reading their homemade cards or notes.

The important thing is for your children to learn how to tell others how they are special to them.  That is a learned skill so help them. And YOU can ask someone else to teach them how to recognize YOU in a meaningful way.  Enjoy your day!

Please share your most memorable "gift" from a family member - preferably something that was meaningful and not expensive.  Click on Comments below and share!!

They'll Remember Your Laugh by Betsy Ringer

Laughter is good medicine for the body, mind and soul.  Proverbs 17:22 says so. And modern research confirms that a good belly laugh and even a giggle reduces stress, protects our heart, strengthens the immune system and increases our pain threshold! 

The movie, “Patch Adams” is based on a doctor who is still practicing medicine today. He prescribes and uses laughter as a healing agent.  Laughter helps clear toxins from organs and circulates oxygen in our bodies.  Oxygen is a primary catalyst for biological energy necessary for good health.  It helps destroy cancer cells, parasites, and bacteria.

I speak to many groups about Laughter and I find that most of us need to be reminded that our families will not remember how clean the house was but they will remember our laugh.  We live in a society that believes the lie that busy people are important. We try to cram 30 hours of living into a 24 hour day. 90% of doctor visits are stress related.  It seems that most of us can benefit from a dose of hearty laughter!

When my kids were very young we started a Mother’s Day tradition.  I thought we didn’t need one more holiday where we went out to eat and bought a gift. I announced that Mother’s Day would be our first picnic and hike of the season!  We have built many wonderful family memories of Mother’s Day outings!  We have had our picnic in the car due to cold and rain; we have explored beautiful waterfalls; and we have had many, MANY laughing episodes!

Laughter seems to bubble up when we are doing something we enjoy.  Here are a few ideas to set the stage for some great belly laughs:

1. How about some simple activities to stimulate laughter?  Try Corn Hole, cards (we like Phase 10), or games (like Apples to Apples).
   
2. Prepare a meal together and eat outside at a leisurely rate.  Start with simple appetizers (chips and salsa) and non-alcoholic “Sangria” - Sprite and grape juice with orange, lemon and lime slices on top.
   
3. Do an activity together: walk at a local nature preserve, take a hearty hike (we like hiking up creeks and we all eventually get wet), or a play a game of “Horse” at the basketball net.
   
4. And of course, turn up the “Laughter Dial” in your own mind and spirit.  Anticipate a good giggle and you won’t be disappointed!  Let the sparkle in your eye shine through.
   

So whether it’s Mother’s Day, a holiday or an activity you’re planning, be sure to incorporate the laughter.  Relationships are oh so much sweeter when we include a loving dose of laughter!

Now it's your turn. Please share about a time when your family laughed together or a great activity that brings the family together.  We really want to hear!  

Are you grateful?

According to Wikipedia:

Gratitude, thankfulness, or appreciation is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.

Gratitude and Well-Being:

A large body of recent work has suggested that people who are more grateful have higher levels of well-being. Grateful people are happier, less depressed, less stressed, and more satisfied with their lives and social relationships.

So, are you grateful?

One of my favorite life coaching exercises to do with women is to help them create a list of at least 100 things (yes, I did just say - 100 things on a list) that they're grateful for in their life. Obviously your list will have those big things - like perhaps your relationship with God, your husband, your children, your family, friends, etc., but be sure to include those small things that we often take for granted, yet greatly appreciate.

Here are a few things from my list:

A relationship with God: When I really sit back and ponder this reality, it completely boggles my mind. The Creator of the Universe knows ME by name. He calls me His beloved. He longs to hear my voice and for me to hear His!

My Family: I really do have the BEST family in the world. Words can't really describe what a blessing and gift my family is to me. We love, encourage, and support one another in each endeavor.

Jon Gore: In case you haven't heard, I'm dating the most fabulous guy in the world. For those of you who know my story of trusting and waiting on God's perfect timing for my future husband - you realize just what a miracle this relationship is from God. We really are the perfect match - lots of similarities, yet differences that complement one another. I am a better person for having Jon invested in my life.

My Friends: I am SO incredibly blessed to have some of the best friends in the world. Some I've known since elementary school, some live life with me on a daily basis, some are far, far away, and some are mere acquaintances - yet one thing is for sure, all have impacted my life in significant ways, for which I am so grateful.

My Dogs: Lady (now in doggie Heaven), Hope, and Max are my babies! On a regular basis these precious animals teach me about unconditional love. They are such a joy and gift from God in my life.

iBloom: I am so incredibly blessed to have one of the BEST jobs in the world. I have the privilege of serving alongside the most incredible group of women. I get to pursue and live out God's plan for my life on a daily basis.

Here are a few other things that I'm really grateful for in my life:

-Crossroads Christian Church (my church!)
-My health
-Snuggling!
-McDonalds Diet Coke
-Bright, Cheery Colors
-Warm Sunshiny Days
-Chocolate
-Photographs
-Chicken Bryan from Carrabbas (oh, so yummy)!
-Jesus Calling Devotional by Sarah Young
-Spring, Summer, and Fall
-Fun, Bright, Cheery Stationary (Cards, Post-It Notes, File Folders, etc.)
-Markers
-BOOKS - and the ability to read, learn, and grow!
-Calendars, Planners, Microsoft Outlook
-Lists! I LOVE to make lists and stay organized!

Obviously, I can't share my entire list. Plus, you wouldn't read it anyway! But, you've seen just a snippet of things that I'm most grateful for in my life.

I often feel like an ordinary girl living an extraordinary life. I am living a life that I love! Don't get me wrong, my life is far from perfect, but I really believe my choice to be grateful in all circumstances allows me to see life with such a brighter outlook.

Challenge:
Create a list or gratitude journal. Start compiling a list of the things that you're most grateful for in your life. Trust me, on those days when you're feeling less than grateful, pull out your list and your perspective is sure to shift.


So, what are you grateful for in your life? Please leave a comment with a few of the things you're most grateful for today!

The Cracked Pot

Author Unknown

A water bearer in India had two large pots, one hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house. The cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it
spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.
"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

Why?" asked the bearer.

"What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house.

Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the
bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side?"

That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them.

For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house,"

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table.

In God's economy, nothing goes to waste.

So as we seek to minister together, and as God you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws.

Acknowledge them, and allow Him to take advantage of them, and you, too, can be the cause of beauty in His pathway.

Go out boldly, knowing that in our weakness we find His strength, and that "In Him every one of God's promises is a Yes."

Thought to Ponder...

"To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did." When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better.

Concentrate on this sentence...

"The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you."