Jenny Rose

Whole nine yards

2012-01-28T09:00:00.000-08:00

The origins of this phrase are uncertain but seem to trace back to a military reference.

1) It could go back to the Vietnam era referring to the nine Montagnard tribes or “Yards”

2) Or it may refer to a drill where soldiers were trained to cover nine yards in three seconds before diving to the ground to avoid sniper fire

Different ball of wax

2012-01-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered what this means or where it came from? The origins of this phrase can be traced back linguistically to the word "bailiwicks" which means "sphere of specialized knowledge." Bailiwicks evolved into our present day "ball o' wax." So a "different ball of wax" means it is a different sphere of specialized knowledge.

Potato eyes?

2011-12-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

Why are those things on potatoes called eyes? My nine-year-old’sinquiring mind wanted to know, and, well, I did too.

I did a bit of research andapparently if you look at a potato there should be an “eye” bud and an “eyebrow”or a vestigial leaf. So maybe the next time you look at a potato, try squintingand leaning your head to one side and maybe you’ll see the eye and eyebrow :)

Keep your chin up ...

2011-11-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

It’s a popular saying, but one that has real physicalramifications. Typically we say this phrase when someone is having a rough dayto remind them to keep a positive attitude. But did you know keeping your chinup and having correct posture will help you feel better physically and canprevent injury? Proper posture can prevent bulged or herniated discs,arthritis, carpel tunnel, and other muscle strain.

As an added bonus, standing up tall gives off an air ofself-confidence. You can read more here:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/137006-what-are-benefits-proper-posture/

HIYA!

2011-11-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

Have youever wondered about that Karate yell—“HIYA!”

Inmartial arts and self-defense you’re encouraged to Kiai or Qia (pronouncedkeeyah) which means “energy,” ”life giving force,” “concentrate,” or “spirit yell”depending on the language referenced. In other words you’re encouraged to yellto help focus, startle the opponent, help you breathe, or alert others to yourplight depending on the circumstance.*

You can read more here:
http://www.martialinfo.com/article.asp?gbfspn=74&fb_source=message

I need your help

2011-10-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

I learned a couple months ago that MeeGenius (http://meegenius.com/) was having a picture bookcontest (http://meegenius.com/challenge/welcome/).Since I have been spending this year converting the scripts I write for mychurch’s preschool department into picture book manuscripts, this sounded likea great opportunity. Plus, you can’t beat a publishing contract for a GrandPrize.

One of the things I have to submit is summary sentence—whichfor a picture book is essentially my pitch. I have one that I took to a writer’sconference this summer, and then I tweaked it. Would you please vote for which sentenceyou like best?

Old: Azariah’s Story is about Shadrach, Meshach andAbednego, the three boys who were thrown into the fiery furnace by KingNebuchadnezzar told from Azariah’s or Abenego’s perspective.

New: Azariah’s Story is abouthow a king changed three boys names to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, but hecouldn’t change what they believed.

Most of the writing contests I’ve seen are judged by a panelof editors, other writers, and agents. Not so with this contest. With thispicture book contest, if you are a member of MeeGenius, you should be able tovote! It’s just a matter of setting up your account with a username andpassword—for free! Community voting will be November 28, 2011-December 18,2011. Isn’t that exciting?

So leave a comment and let me know if you like the old pitchor the new pitch better and then I’ll remind you when voting begins onMeeGenius and you can read Azariah’s Story and vote for me!

Evolution?

2011-10-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had to deal with the question of evolution? Ifyour teacher holds different beliefs or views than you, Focus on the Family’sClub House does not recommend standing up in class and arguing. However, ifevolution comes up in conversation with a friend or classmate, here are somethings to consider:

Miracles of Darwinism
Evolution is taught as a science. But by excluding God, evolution ultimatelyboils down to the religion of self-worship. Check out these miracles thatevolutionists have to believe:
Spontaneous generation of life: No evolutionist can fully explain how lifebegan. Some say lightning; some say spacemen. But life can’t even be created ina lab today.
Creative power of time: Time is the hero in evolution. But adding time doesn’timprove the odds of complex, chance developments.
Persistence of the improbably: Evolution relies on mutational change to createmore sophisticated plants and animals. Yet science shows that mutationsoverwhelmingly impact life negatively.
Punctuated equilibrium: This idea states that species stayed the same formillions of years and then quickly changed, leaving no fossil record. Theevidence for this idea is that there is no evidence. Creationists would say thelack of a fossil record for transitional species points directly to a divineCreator.

My Teacher Says Evolution is Fact
Instead of standing up in class and shouting, “That’s not true!” creationistexpert and speaker Rich Carroll suggests asking questions.
“There’s very little to be gained by being confrontational,” Carroll says. “TheBible teaches us to be loving and humble in dealing with people. Questions canbe the least threatening and most powerful tools in helping to bring up anissue and change a person’s mind.”
When evolution comes up at school or in a conversation with a friend, tryasking these questions:
1. If all animals and humans evolved from other creatures, why don’t we findany fossils of transitional forms that are halfway between two creatures?
2. If the universe began as a bunch of disorganized elements, where did thoseelements come from?
3. Why aren’t fossils of the simplest organisms found in the “oldest,” deepestlayers of the earth and more complex organisms found near the top?

Super-powers

2011-10-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

There’s a lot wrong with this world. There are also a lot ofsuper-hero movies out now. Some heroes such as Batman don’t have super powers,but others such as Spiderman have special powers.

I asked my family if they could have one super-power, whatwould it be and why?

Jordi (6) – wants to fly super fast so she can get to placeson time

AJ (9) – wants zapping power so she can stop bullies or zapher sister to her room when she’s being annoying

Ken – wants invisibility so he can gather intelligence

Me? – I want super-speed so I can get my chores done quicklyand have more time for fun.

How about you? Would you want super-brains so you can solvethe problems of the world or maybe ace that test? Or maybe you’d want to readminds so you can read you teacher’s mind for that test or your kids so you canfinally figure them out?

What super-power would you want and why?

Bible bullies: Cain

2011-09-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Genesis 4:2-15

Abel was a shepherd. Cain was a farmer. Cain brought an offering of fruit to the Lord. Abel brought the firstborn. While it specifically states that Abel brought a firstborn, it doesn’t say Cain brought the first fruits. Rather than apologize or fix the mistake, Cain took his anger out on his brother. After all God liked Abel better so if he got rid of his brother there would be no competition. Cain was selfish and did not want to give God his first, his best. He did not want to change.

I think Cain became the first bully (as well as the first murderer). He doesn’t show any remorse over any of his actions. How is it that this first son lacks conscience and conviction? Abel had conscience and conviction. Each of their responses, their attitudes, must be a result and combination of parenting, personality and choice.

But that’s not the only thing I notice. Bullies have obviously been around a long time. Due to our humanity we will never be able to eliminate the bully problem. Some people cannot or will not be fixed or changed. That’s why anti-bully programs shouldn’t be about just teaching empathy and sympathy, but also about empowering potential victims and how to react and deal with bully encounters.

12 Stones launch anti-bullying campaign

2011-08-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

I've been hearing their latest single on my local Christian Rock Station. I think it is very cool they are launching this campaign.

http://www.hmmagazine.com/2011/07/12-stones-launch-anti-bullying-campaign/

The next generation

2011-08-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

I was impressed when the local middle school Destination Imagination team created an anti-bullying video last year. I am blown away by all the awards and recognition they received for it. WAY TO GO!

Harpool DI team

All One Tribe video

All about me book

2011-08-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

All about me book

Around the ages of 4 and 5, Pediatricians check to see if kids know their name, their gender, their address, phone number, and things like that. To make acquiring this knowledge more fun for my girls I wrote a “book” for each of them. It turned out like this:

My name is {insert first name} {insert last name}. I am {insert age} years old and I am a {insert gender}.

My mommy’s name is [this page can be tailored to whoever the child’s guardians are: Mommy, Daddy, Step-parents, grandparents.]

I have [this page can be tailored to siblings and anyone else other than guardians that the child lives with—their relationship, name, an age if appropriate.]

[On this page I talked about their pets.]

We live in {insert city or town}, {insert state}. Our address is {insert street address}. Our phone number is {insert phone number}.

[I finished off the book with “That’s me and my family” and a family picture]

I have also included pictures on most pages. This has helped both my girls learn their information. Now if I could just remember to update it each birthday, it would probably be even better :)

Kids fears: Anxiety and Worry

2011-08-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

And because we all have worry, fear and anxiety from time to time:

Psalm 138:3 When I called, you answered me, Lord; you made me bold and stouthearted.

Philippians 4:6-7 (New International Version, ©2010)

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 (New International Version, ©2010)

¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on God because he cares for you.

One can make a difference

2011-08-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

An example of one person making a difference :)

"R" word

Playing it through

2011-08-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have a hard time getting your kids to talk to you? Have you ever listened in on their play time and wondered why they are playing the way they do? Young children work out their feelings through play. Sometimes it is better to listen in and let them play it out, paying attention to how they resolve the situation. Or perhaps you can cross the plane of pretend and ask why a character is acting a certain way. You might be able to offer suggestions to the characters—not directly to your child—and pretend for a little while that these characters of your child’s imagination are as real to you as they are to your child. You might get a glimpse into your child’s mind, their world, when they can’t express themselves the way adults do.

Check out what John Tartaglia says about the role of play in the child’s life:

Serious play

Kids fears: God is big and scary

2011-08-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

This one really saddens my heart and I have to wonder if it stems from "hellfire and brimstone," Bible-thumping type teaching. Here are some verses that I hope will give my kids a different perspective:

2 Chronicles 2:6a

^6a But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him?

¹² Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
or weighed the mountains on the scales
and the hills in a balance?

¹⁷ “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

Teasing part 2: Famous nicknames

2011-08-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

Name calling is one of the many faces of bullying. These words can emotionally scar worse than a physical scar. But I remembered there was a famous baseball player called “Schnozz.” Now I wonder if this nickname was started by some bully when he was a kid. I mean, I could see where kids could be bothered by being called “Gimpy”, “Fatty”, “Stinky.” Yet, each of these are nicknames for famous ball players. When did this name-calling turn into a famous nickname? Were they ever bothered by these names? Check out these famous nicknames. Would you consider any of them mean?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_basketball_nicknames

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_baseball_nicknames

Have we learned that certain nicknames are inappropriate and hurtful? Or have some of us made our kids too sensitive? How and where do we draw the line?

Kids fears: Bad guys

2011-08-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Another common fear is "bad guys," one that I can understand. I may be considered over-protective by some because I want my eyes on my children unless I know they are in the care of a competent adult (school, church, friend or relatives house). In fact, we have a saying: "If I can't see you, I can't help you."

But for my girls, this fear rears is ugly head at night when they are trying to get much needed sleep, so here are some verses I found:

Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.

Psalm 5:11 (New International Version)

¹¹ But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Psalm 12:7 (New International Version)

⁷ O LORD, you will keep us safe
and protect us from such people forever.

Psalm 23:4 I will fear no evil, for you are with me, O Lord; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 32:7 (New International Version)

⁷ You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Selah

Psalm 140:1 (New International Version)

¹ Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men;
protect me from men of violence,

2 Thessalonians 3:3 (New International Version)

³But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go,” says the Lord.

Taryn Grimes-Herbert

2011-08-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

Taryn Grimes-Herbert has written several interesting articles on bullying, how they were personally affected and survived.

There's no such thing as a bully

Defense against name calling

2011-08-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Verbal bullying can be so hard to defend against. In a physical situation there is physical evidence; but in verbal situations it’s “your word against his.” And words—positive and negative—can stick with you for years. I really like the advice from Kidpower.org on how to defend against verbal bullying, both in the short-term and long-term.

Teach Kids the Protective Power of Words
Kids tell us that trying to just ignore it when someone says something mean to them doesn't really work. Stop serious name-calling with the same commitment you use when stopping serious hitting. Teach kids to protect themselves from hurtful wordhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifs by imagining throwing them into a trashcan instead of taking them inside their hearts or their heads.
Teach kids not to let insults, rude behavior, or guilt trips trigger them into feeling intimidated or emotionally coerced by a bully. Kids need to learn how not to let what others say or do control their choices. They also need to learn how not to behave in emotionally damaging ways towards others. Teach kids how to set clear strong verbal boundaries in a respectful assertive way with people they know.

Protecting Your Feelings From Name-Calling
Schools, youth groups, and families should create harassment-free zones just as workplaces should. However, you can teach children how to protect themselves from insults. Tell your child that saying something mean back makes the problem bigger, not better.
One way to take the power out of hurting words by is saying them out loud and imagining throwing them away. Doing this physically and out loud at home will help a child to do this in his or her imagination at school.
Help your child practice throwing the mean things that other people are saying into a trash can. Have your child then say something positive out loud to himself or herself to take in. For example, if someone says, "I don't like you, " you can throw those words away and say, "I like myself." If someone says, "You are stupid" you can throw those words away and say, "I'm smart." If someone says, "I don't want to play with you" then you can throw those words away and say, "I will find another friend."

Kids fears: The dark

2011-08-16T09:05:00.000-07:00

Kids have fears. Sometimes we adults can remember having those same fears. Some are logical or at least seem logical to kids. Others, don't seem rational at all even after the child explains. And then a child will communicate a fear that is such a sign of the times that as adults we wish things were different.

As a way to help my kids through some of their fears, I started writing a bedtime story and researched scriptures that might help. A fear of the dark is a pretty common fear. Depending on how you grew up or where you are now, you may still find the dark unnerving. Here are several verses I found to help my girls:

Gen 1:5, 16, 18 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 2:2-3 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Genesis 28:11 When [Jacob] reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.

Ezra 8:32 So [Ezra and the priests and Levites] arrived in Jerusalem, where [they] rested three days.

Psalm 3:24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Psalm 4:8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety

Mt 8:24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.

Mark 4:38a Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion

Mark 6:31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that [the apostles] did not even have a chance to eat, [Jesus] said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Cyberbullying tips

2011-08-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Essential tips for parents:

Teach your kids empathy. Nothing drives home a point faster than walking a mile in someone else's shoes. If your kids truly understand what someone else is going through, they're less likely to bully someone -- or passively witness others being bullied.

Help kids understand the line between funny and cruel. Kids' online communication is often purposely ambiguous or accidentally cruel -- both of which can lead to misunderstandings. If drama starts brewing, ask your kid to call or speak face to face with their friend to clear it up.

Make sure they talk to someone (even if it's not you). As kids enter the middle school years, their circle of friends and trusted adults widens. Kids need a responsible adult to confide in -- their school counselor, their music teacher, even the parent of a friend.Talk to your kid about who they can go to if trouble is brewing.

Help your kid be an upstander -- not a bystander. Kids are hesitant to get involved, in case the bully turns their sights on them. But there are ways to allow your kid to work behind the scenes to reach out to the victim, get an adult involved, and prevent more cruel behavior.

I found these tips on the Common Sense Media site. These are the ones I agree with. There were others I don’t agree with. Are online communications really a part of the fabric of our kids lives? How about making sure you know what your kids are doing online? As long as my kids are living under my roof, I have the right to know what they are doing. I cannot make their choices for them, but I can certainly implement consequences.

Water Gun Fight!

2011-08-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

It was a typical hot, Texas summer day. My to do list was longer than the hours in my day and I was running out of time to make it to the gym. Whether it was heat or allergies, my girls were cranky. It was time to break out the big guns …

Water guns that is!

Water guns can range in size from very small to very big, from under $1 to over $20. All of ours were around $2.50.

I had the sprinkler going so that everyone was guaranteed to get wet. I came in soaked, everyone was happy. Pretty good way to beat the heat, burn a few calories, and spend some quality time with your kids, don’t you think?

Standard for Children's books

2011-08-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

I was reading a children’s/middle grade book the other day and noticed several clichés, predictable henchmen, but then vocabulary that was beyond me. I know children’s books are held to a different standard than those written for adults, but is it this kind of different? Are there so few good kid’s books out there that something like this gets published?

There are also moments when it sounds like the author is mourning the loss of homey, small town life. Is that really a concept that 10-12 year olds are going to comprehend?

Any thoughts? Can a “children’s” writer get away with certain things because they write for kids? Or are there a lot of substandard kid’s books out there because of this?

Half empty or full

2011-08-01T13:13:00.000-07:00

I borrowed this from a friend of mine:
A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience; with a raised glass of water, and everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, 'half empty or half full?'..... she fooled them all.... "How heavy is this glass of water?", she inquired with a smile.

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

She continued, "and that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden - holding stress longer and better each time practiced.

So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night... pick them up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment. Relax, pick them up later after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it and the now 'supposed' stress that you've conquered!"

1 * Accept the fact that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue!

2 * Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

3 * Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

4 * Drive carefully... It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker..

5 * If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague

6 * If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it..

7 * It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

8 * Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

9 * Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

10 * The second mouse gets the cheese.

11 * When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

12 * Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

13 * You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

14 * We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.

15 * A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

* Have an awesome day and know that someone thought about you today. It was me, your friend!

*Save the earth..... It's the only planet with chocolate !*

.

Book about bullying

2011-08-01T07:36:00.000-07:00

Why don't you go visit my other blog and check out my review of a book about bullying: http://jennywidner.blogspot.com/2011/08/disappointing.html

Veterans and Bully Victims

2011-07-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

Children, kids, and teens aren’t the only ones who can struggle with self-esteem. Sometimes the bullies aren’t the ones in the classroom or on the playground. When our soldiers go out and fight a war, they are fighting bullies—or at least that’s how I see it. Our soldiers can come back as disabled veterans recovering from traumatic injuries, burns, wounds, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

I came across this article Beneath the Surface in the July 2011 edition of Texas Co-op Power about diver instructors who are trying to help these veterans. “Serious injuries can take an individual to a dark place. Thompson says: ‘But when soldiers see they can do something as challenging as diving, and do it as well as anybody else, it’s a real confidence booster. They figure, “If I can scuba dive, I can kayak, or golf, or whatever.” ‘ “ These veterans and the kids who are bullied need a confidence boost—something that will remind them they CAN do something they ARE valuable.

“ ‘Diving definitely helped me,’ says Gill, who wears a prosthetic leg in the water. ‘Physically, [while diving] I have my own independence. Mentally, it’s very calming. A lot of soldiers, like me, have PTSD and deal with a lot of stress. In the water, there is no stress.’ “

And it’s not just about us TELLING them they are valuable. This diving program for these veterans helps them see for themselves. Whether or not you believe that bullying is traumatic, whether or not you believe in whatever war our soldiers are fighting—the wounds they bear (both physical and mental) are very real to the victims and we need to have more activities that help them see their worth for themselves.

Writer's Conference

2011-07-25T07:19:00.000-07:00

I made it there and back without getting lost, yay me! So I’m directionally impaired and geographically impaired, that’s why I have a TomTom. I had a couple copies of my manuscript Azariah’s Story and my “one sheet.” Within an hour of arrival, they announced how to signed up for fifteen minutes to talk with a publisher. He read through the story and responded positively, but then the reality check came.

Children’s picture books are hard to publish and sell right now. I think it has to do with the picture process. Picture books need an illustrator. Therefore the royalties need to be split between the author and the illustrator. It takes extra time to print the pictures and sometimes this is an overseas process. There have even been some studies that say some parents are skipping the picture book stage with their children and moving right into reading chapter books.

While it wasn’t a full rejection, it wasn’t an offer either. At first I was discouraged, but since the conference didn’t end after that 15 minute segment, I continued taking notes. There was a lot of other information to digest and many ideas to go over and start working on.
Incidentally, one of those ideas involves a monthly segment to interview people and/or organizations who seek to positively impact and improve the lives of children. So if you have a person or organization you would like to suggest, please leave a comment (please include an email for you or them so that I can follow up :) )

Biscuit donuts

2011-07-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

My family loves donuts (or doughnuts). We have them less and less often, but what is summer vacation without some fun treats. I came across this article in the October 2009 Texas Co-op Power periodical and put it in my recipes to try pile. The story itself is sweet (I encourage you to read the link) and as simple as the directions and ingredients were, I figured I could handle it.

First, make sure to buy the small (as in skinny) can of cheap biscuits. I bought cheap and whole wheat. I used a small saucepan, a candy thermometer, vegetable oil, tongs, and a medicine cup.

Second, make sure you keep an eye on the temperature of the oil. The first time, I didn’t, and the donuts cooked way too fast and burned a bit. Watch the donuts. Even at the correct temp (around 350 with the candy thermometer) they cook quickly.

Third, whole wheat biscuit dough is denser, bigger, and already a light brown to begin with so they don’t cook up well.

I used Ziploc baggies for each of my girls to shake powdered sugar onto their own donuts, so they didn’t have to fight like in the story. Overall, I think everyone enjoyed it. The taste and texture is different from the store bought donuts, but considering the donuts were gone the same day here, I don’t think anybody minded.

Texas Co-op Power Oct 2009

This could be interesting

2011-07-17T07:50:00.000-07:00

Cyberbully movie

I am hooked on this song

2011-07-15T15:59:00.000-07:00

Watch Me Do Me

Highland Village, TX takes a stand against bullying

2011-07-06T20:30:00.000-07:00

http://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/local-news/1632-taking-a-stand-against-bullying.html
I like that I’m seeing people, especially police, in my local communities taking notice and a stand against bullying. I don’t like that it has to come on the heels of a suicide and an attempted suicide. The new program they are launching includes emphasis on telling someone if you’re being bullied. Highland Village (TX) police officers visited schools this past Spring and will do so again in August and will be declaring an official “No Bullying” week in November.
While I like the police, LISD and elected officials getting involved in this initiative, my favorite part of the article came when the police chief had a few suggestions for parents: “such as helping children learn the social skills they need to make friends because a confident resourceful child who has friends is less likely to be a bully or to bully others. He also said if parents praise children’s kindness toward others, it lets kids know that kindness is valued. And, he added, it is also important the teach children ways to resolve arguments without violent words or actions.” The Highland Village city manager “added that monitoring your children’s social media websites is another way to catch a problem early on. ‘As parents, please understand that you must have instant access to your child or children’s “Cyber Forums” - Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, phone texts, etc. And it’s not just having access as a friend - it’s taking possession of the computer or phone and making sure you know what is being said and to whom they are communicating with on a daily, weekly or bi-weekly basis,” said Leavitt.

He added, “It’s a “tough love” choice, but we must make the personal decision to help our youth of today. It is our obligation as responsible parents and this far outweighs the “personal privacy” and expectations of our children and what is being portrayed today in our society.’”

You never know where you'll encounter a bully

2011-06-29T12:07:00.000-07:00

Is bullying akin to child abuse?

2011-06-07T07:14:00.000-07:00

Bullying vs child abuse

What do you think?

Teasing part 1

2011-05-30T06:42:00.001-07:00

I am cleaning off my desk this weekend. Several articles and various papers have collected and I’m sorting, tossing and dealing with them. I came across an article on teasing. Glynnis Whitwer in When Your Child Is Hurting says children can be more likely to be a victim of bullying if they are overly sensitive to good-natured teasing. Unfortunately, the article I read from a local preschool warned against teasing—adults shouldn’t tease because young children aren’t sophisticated and can’t handle it and parents should intervene if an older child begins to tease. We are to eliminate teasing from our behavior. As the article continued, it warned against over-protective parenting that rescues their child too soon.

So what is good-natured teasing? When is it age appropriate? How would you teach the difference between good-natured teasing and verbal bullying when different kids have different levels of sensitivity?

Not just about teens

2011-05-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

10 Things Teens Wish Their Parents Knew

I think this is a great article and would apply for those younger as well.

To the future!

2011-05-25T07:12:00.000-07:00

The following post is part of a blogfest*. I have never participated in one of these before, but since I’m all about trying new things (remember the self-expansion, expanding your borders?) I decided to give this one a try. Besides, I thought it would be a good confidence booster (who doesn’t need one of those once in a while) to remind me of my goals.

Dear Jenny—published author,
You did it! You realized that childhood dream of being a published author. When you wrote that Winnie-the-Pooh fan fic in the blank page of that old address book could you really imagine this day? And can you believe what you actually got published? You’ve come a long way, struggled and grown a lot through silly poetry, songs, teen angst stories and even some goofy fan fiction. You finally found your voice and your calling. You survived all the rejection letters, your kids survived your scatter-brained-ness, and your husband survived you rambling on and on and on …

While you can take a little time to enjoy this little victory, you know it’s time to get serious. You thought you were serious before, but you’ll have to take your writing and your focus to the next level now. You are published so this really is your job. But at least you’re getting paid for it! Yay! But seriously, you’re going to have to be more organized. Tweak that schedule. Just remember to carve out some time for your family where you TRY to turn off the writer and chill.

Congrats and may the muse be with you!

Love,
Jenny—aspiring writer

*this blogfest is Letters to the Future and is not just for writers. Is there something you want to remember in the future?

self-expansion, self-improvement, self-esteem

2011-05-23T07:35:00.000-07:00

There was a sermon on one of my missions trips in high school that has stayed with me all these years. That sermon marked a milestone in my life. The sermon was about the Jews expanding their borders as they spread the knowledge of God to the people groups around them. Each of us on the trip, as several churches had converged on Reynosa, Mexico to minister, were encouraged to expand our borders—to reach beyond ourselves as we reached out to others.

self-expansion

As I read the above article about self-expansion and marriage, that sermon came back to me. Dr. Lewandowski says, “People have a fundamental motivation to improve the self and add to who they are as a person.”
How do you feel when you learn something new? How do you feel when someone close to you learns something new and they share the experience with you?

On the outside looking in

2011-05-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

Feel like an outsider, a weirdo, a nerd? Looks like the future holds potential and promise.

Geeks versus popular

You're wearing that?!

2011-05-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

"In 2007 ... a report linking early sexualization with three of the most common mental-health problems of girls and women: eating disorders, low self-esteem and depression." So when parents think they are buying these things to help their kids self-esteem, it's backfiring.

Parents don't dress your girls like tramps

What are you eating?

2011-05-16T11:03:00.000-07:00

Interesting information on food dyes and behavior. And this program isn't just about kids with ADHD. They are finding "normal" kids and adults benefit, too.

The Feingold diet program

Article from Seth Godin

2011-05-15T18:00:00.000-07:00

I thought this was interesting.

Bully-Victim Cycle

Michael Hyatt on Validation

2011-05-13T13:43:00.000-07:00

I encourage you to watch the whole video even though it's 16 minutes. Don't you think a little validation could go a long way in boosting someone's self-esteem?

Validation

Truth from Taylor Swift

2011-05-11T11:45:00.000-07:00

I'm liking this girl more and more. I think she was bullied growing up, too.

Taylor Swift "Mean"

Let's see if this works

2011-05-09T11:31:00.000-07:00

I love the message of this song

Superchick "Rock what you've Got"

But I don't want to be the bad guy

2011-04-12T07:05:00.000-07:00

I read an article this morning in The Cross Timbers Gazette about a family who used Youth & Family Counseling. It starts off with “Although he lived in an intact family with both of his biological parents, the 13-year-old Denton County boy was facing truancy charges, experimenting with drugs, “huffing” paint, and associating with gang members.” My first thought is—how does an 8th grader skip school that much and get into this much trouble? The article goes on to explain “The boy and his 10-year-old brother had very little supervision because his parents worked long hours.” Ah, that explains a lot.

Now I realize parents have to work. I realize that sometimes both parents have to work. Let me finish telling you what the article said before I explain where I’m going.

“The parents opened a dialog regarding working as partners and agreed that not intervening in their son’s behavior put both his and his younger brother’s future, and possibly lives at risk. They were educated on realistic and age-appropriate expectations and how to implement consequences, and then they somewhat reluctantly instituted new family rules. When their joint efforts met with success in solving their son’s truancy problem, they gained a great deal of confidence in themselves as parents. They defined additional expectations and reported that they had new confidence in their parenting abilities that they home was much happier with less conflict and they no longer feared for their children’s future.”

Notice the parents worked together as partners. This is a key. When marriage partners are a team, the family is more stable and the kids feel more secure. Next, “they were educated on realistic and age-appropriate expectations.” That sure makes me wonder what these parents were expecting of their sons. Remember, your kids aren’t adults and they are not the same as you were when you were a kid. Then they had to be educated on “how to implement consequences, and then they somewhat reluctantly instituted new family rules.” Something that always bugged me when I was teaching were the parents who told me—I’m only with my kids for a little while each day, I don’t want to be the bad guy. Well, consider this story as a lesson in what can happen if you refuse to be the bad guy and have some consequences and family rules.

Finally, did you see the results when everyone worked together, changed expectations, and implemented consequences and rules? Many of the problems were solved and they had a happier home with less conflict.

I’m not saying that we can fix all our families problems or we will never have trouble with our kids, but rules, consequences, and appropriate expectations are necessary folks.

A cute story of encouragement for kids

2011-04-09T14:38:00.000-07:00

I've talked about great books for parents (and other grownups) to read about encouraging their kids, boosting their confidence and esteem. Recently I read a book, a children's illustrated story, that does this for kids.

I'd Choose You by John T. Trent

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’d Choose You by John Trent is an illustrated story that can both show parents how to encourage their children as well as remind children that everyone can have their bad days—even when you get to ride a roller coaster to school.

Nothing is going right for Norbert the elephant from sitting by himself on the ride to school to Heidi the hippo falling in his mashed potatoes and being left out of the ball game. After school, his mother informs him that even though he thinks there are lots of kids at his school that are better than he is, she would choose him out of them all.

This is a fun story with lively illustrations that can be a useful tool for parents as well as an entertaining book for kids. We all need reminders from time to time on how to encourage our kids (and each other) in different ways. I wish Trent had come up with a different ending, however. Ending the book with Heidi the hippo waiting outside I think was a little inappropriate for the overall tone of the book. I would still recommend this book.

I received this book free from the publisher in order to read and give an honest review.

View all my reviews

What is the first sign of bullying

2011-03-31T12:05:00.000-07:00

http://www.dentonlifestyles.com/category/departments/children-education/

The above link is to an article published in the Mar/Apr issue of Lifestyles of Denton County under the title “The Good, The Bad and The Bully.” But as I read through the list of “warning signs” I was disturbed and angry. Toward the bottom is “they refuse to talk about what is wrong.”

• Afraid to walk to and from school or change their usual walking route
• They don’t want to ride the bus or they beg you to take them to school
• They are afraid to go to school
• They pretend illness in the mornings or they begin truanting
• They start doing poorly in their school work
• They often bring home destroyed clothing or other belongings
• They come home famished (bully takes their food money or lunch)
• They act withdrawn, start stammering, lack confidence
• They become distressed and anxious and sometimes stop eating
• They attempt or threaten suicide
• They cry themselves to sleep or have nightmares
• Their personal belongings go missing
• They ask for money or start stealing (in order to pay the bully) or they
continually lose their pocket money
• They refuse to talk about what’s wrong
• They have unexplained cuts, abrasions, bruises
• They begin to bully other children, siblings or they become aggressive
and unreasonable
• They give improbable excuses for any of the behaviors listed above

Why do kids refuse to talk about what is wrong? Why are these warning signs so severe? Shouldn’t the first warning sign for us as parents be that our child tells us “someone is picking on me”? In An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong, the main character Chrissa says nothing about the bullying incidents that occur with her first few days at a new school. She doesn’t confide in a teacher, her parents, or even her brother. Why are our kids being programmed to think that have to keep it to themselves? Is it just the bullies that are warning our kids not to tell? Are “we” as parents not encouraging our kids to talk to us about ANYTHING and encouraging them to confide in us?

I for one explain to my girls the difference between tattle-tale and when you need to tell on someone. I try hard to keep the lines of communication open with my children—which can be exhausting because they can talk A LOT!

Don’t wait until you think something is wrong. If your child refuses to talk about anything, consider that a warning sign. Then, instead of badgering them, try asking yourself what you can do as a parent to be more open and encouraging. Ask yourself in what ways can you “set the scene” for open and honest communication with your child so that the other more severe warnings signs don’t have to come into play.

Mothering

2011-03-09T06:13:00.000-08:00

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/the-opposite-of-a-tiger-mother-leaving-your-children-behind-2460982/

Two extremes: tiger mother versus giving up mother hood altogether. I’ll admit, I have not read this tiger mother book, but I think I’ve heard enough to decide it’s not my thing. However, there were a couple of things I noticed in the interview with Rahna Reiko Rizzuto. First, she “had this idea that motherhood was this really all-encompassing thing,” and she “was afraid of being swallowed up by that.” Yes, mothering, parenting, is a 24/7 job; but I don’t see any reason why one has to lose their identity in it. You have to change and adapt your expectations of parenthood and yourself when kids enter the picture, but there’s no reason why you can’t have a life to some extent.

Next, she said, “In my part-time motherhood, I get concentrated blocks of time when I can be that 1950s mother we idealize who was waiting in an apron with fresh cookies when we got off the school bus and wasn’t too busy for anything we needed until we went to bed.” If I recall, June Cleaver was a fictional character of a TV show illustrating a time period when the men worked and their wives were expected to keep house. Some women and mothers still think that June Cleaver is the ideal we need to live up to. Uh, excuse me? This is not the 1950s, it’s 2011 people.

Talyaa Liera was also interviewed, but it almost sounded like she felt she helped her children by moving 3000 miles away. She said, “that by being so nurturing, I was in some ways keeping my children from growing to their potential.” You couldn’t make some adjustments and teach your children to be more independent?

My first reaction to these moms is that they are being selfish, but I understand their wanting to be something more than “just a mom.” I don’t think a mother has to go to the extreme of leaving her family to accomplish that. Then I see these women as trying to live up to a certain standard—their idea of perfection that is in their head. No two people are exactly alike. No two mothers are exactly alike. We all have strengths and weaknesses, as do our husbands and kids. We need to work together (within the family) to figure out what motherhood, parenthood, and individualism looks like for each of us and realize that what works for me probably doesn’t look the same for you or her. We all need to stop striving for perfection and just find the truth.

Are you in a really good mood?

2011-03-04T15:17:00.000-08:00

Are you in TOO good of a mood? Feel like you’re on top of the world? Want to bring yourself down to earth, way, way down? Here’s ten ways to make yourself feel miserable.

*think of everything you don’t like about yourself
*recall of every negative thing anyone has ever said to you
*remember all the stupid things you have done
*remember all your failures
*recall every rejection

Do you feel miserable yet? If not, then keep reading …

*think of everything you wanted to try but haven’t
*try to be perfect
*don’t have a dream or a goal
*don’t have a hobby
*don’t relieve stress

Moods

2011-03-01T08:38:00.000-08:00

Good mood, bad mood, mood swings—are they something that is beyond your control? Even though according to Dr. Rifkin in Going Bonkers magazine (June 2010) “moods result from complex interactions of chemicals in our brains,” and “these chemicals are influenced by everything that goes on within us, and outside us” we can still look for patterns and causes.

So many things can trigger our moods: genetics, family, friends, weather, food, sleep, allergies, time of day, even thoughts and feelings. Try journaling—and I’m not just saying that because I love to write. Journaling is a great way to record and keep track of when and why your mood changes. And you don’t have to just keep track of your bad moods.

I personally (*ahem*) know people who have to eat the right foods as the right times and exercise regularly to avoid bad moods. When the weather changes, my kids act differently. I’m sure we all know someone who gets grumpy when they don’t get enough sleep.

If thoughts and feelings are bringing you down, double check and make sure they are based on fact and not confused, irrational thoughts. Can it be replaced with a more balanced or believable thought?

Bullies will manipulate our thoughts and feelings to change our mood. But how much of what they are saying is true? Are they taking the truth and twisting it into a lie? If you believe their lies, they have won. If you let them to put you in a bad mood, they have won. Go back to the facts. Get back to the truth.

We won’t always be in a good mood. Mood changes are ok. Bad moods are going to happen from time to time, just don’t stay there. Dr. Rifkin says, “Don’t just accept a bad mood, especially when you have the power to change it.”

Changing and Adapting

2011-02-24T15:58:00.000-08:00

As your kids get older, your relationship and interaction changes. My kids are starting to learn to entertain themselves as they explore their own interests and identities. This means adjustment for you and them.

My younger daughter likes to play her DS while her big sister is in dance class. Sometimes she likes to sit on her own, but sometimes she likes to curl up beside me. I balance my book in one hand and wrap my other arm around her.

My older daughter likes to draw or color before bed. Again, I balance a book in one hand while I rub her neck or shoulders with my other.

In each of these instances, we are able to preserve the contact of cuddling while pursuing individual interests. I communicate to my daughters that I love, encourage and support them. If they need to talk, even if I need to tell them to wait a moment while I finish a sentence, I will put my book down and give them my full attention. They also learn that I have interests aside from being a maid, chauffeur and zookeeper.

I am so embarrased

2011-02-08T06:50:00.001-08:00

The Monster at the end of this book was one of my favorites as a kid. If you’ve never read the story, Grover doesn’t want the reader to turn the pages and keep reading because he’ll have to deal with the monster at the end of the book. The thing is, the end of the book reveals that Grover is the monster. I think the last line on the last page is “Oh, I am so embarrassed.”

If you’re alive, you’ve probably been embarrassed. For me, it is in those moments when my self-esteem can waver and falter. We don’t want others to think less of us because we make a mistake. Some people can become so preoccupied with what others might think of them that they won’t try—anything. Been there, done that and I don’t think it’s a good way to go through life. Yeah, if you never try you can’t really fail, but if you never try, you can’t succeed either, right? IF you try, you MIGHT say something funny that makes someone laugh, say something intelligent and someone is impressed, you MIGHT even have the answer someone is looking for. If you don’t try, you’ll never know.

But say you did try, and it, uh, didn’t go so well. You are getting embarrassed. Instead of asking yourself “Why did I do that? Why did I say that? Why did I try?”, ask yourself if it was really a big deal, or was it a simple mistake that anyone could make? If your goof really was a big deal (you forgot something important) figure out what you can learn and avoid making the same mistake again. If it wasn’t a big deal, learn to shrug it off and try something different next time.

Something I try to remember and tell myself is I am probably not the only person in the world or history of time who has done this, made this mistake, had this embarrassing moment. I probably wouldn’t let them beat themselves up about it, so why should I make myself miserable over it. And is it really going to matter over the course of time?

Apologize when necessary, laugh as much as possible, and keep moving.

Stuck inside with my kids part 2

2011-02-04T13:21:00.000-08:00

We are stuck inside, snowed in, and it is day #4. So here is another list of ideas:

Scavenger hunt: you can easily tailor this to the ages of your kids whether you focus on colors, numbers, shapes, ABCs, or more abstract items.

Paper airplanes or origami: fold some different designs and then have a contest to see which flies the furthest, highest, or turns the most. Look up other paper folding activities.

Cat’s cradle: Remember this string game from your childhood? Have you ever taught it to your kids? I think I’m going to give it a try this afternoon.

Movement/exercise die: Use a square-ish Kleenex box. Cover each side with a different color of construction paper. Draw or write different movements and or exercises on each side such as jumping jacks, frog jumps, stretches, arm circles, push-ups, sit-ups, burpees, jumping rope, etc. If you also have a numbered die, you can roll the two die together to see which movement to perform and how many times.

Tupperware matching: If your “tupperware” cabinet is also neatly organized, then give yourself a pat on the back. Otherwise, have your kids help you sort the sizes and shapes and match lids.

Cotton ball races: Similar to tabletop soccer (one of the links I shared Wednesday) but give each participant (no reason to restrict it to just the little ones) a cotton ball and a straw. Designate a starting line and a finish line. Just be careful or you may find out who passes out first, too.

Kids websites

2011-02-04T07:26:00.000-08:00

Many of my friends are stuck inside with their kids for yet another snow/ice day. So here is a list of kids websites I have collected. Some girly, some boyish, some educational, some preschool, some older--but this is not an indication that my kids play on the internet all day long, lol. Rather it is because I don't see a reason to spend money on computer games for my kids when there are some many websites. I am not opposed to using the internet to supplement my kids learning experience. The more different ways that learning is reinforced, the longer and better the information will stick.

http://barbie.everythinggirl.com/
http://www.bigideafun.com/
http://disney.go.com/characters/clubmickey/index.html
http://disney.go.com/disneychannel/playhouse/rpo/rpo_games.html
http://www.funbrain.com/
http://www.nickjr.com/
http://www.clicknkids.com/Index.asp?cnr=TV
http://atv.disney.go.com/playhouse/index.html
http://kids.discovery.com/fansites/readysetlearn/readysetlearn.html
https://www.theknackkids.com/?reg_source=KKWELCM&utm_source=site&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=welcome
http://www.veggiepirates.com/
http://www.lego.com/en-US/default.aspx?domainredir=lego.com
http://caillou.com/indexUS.shtml
http://veggiefanclub.com/
http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/magictreehouse/
http://pbskids.org/
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tlsbooks.com%2F&h=6bb5c
http://www.theuhohs.org/
http://www.dos.state.ny.us/kidsroom/firesafe/firesafe.html
http://ci.delavan.wi.us/firedept_forkids.cfm
http://www.noggin.com/
http://www.starfall.com/
http://www.nwf.org/rangerrick/kzPage.cfm?siteId=3&CFID=21900131&CFTOKEN=44cb95646c1865c8-9C36F665-5056-A868-A070EBC11AE742FF
http://www.softschools.com/
http://www.spellingcity.com/
http://www.hotwheels.com/
http://bozthebear.com/home.asp
http://coolmath4kids.com/
http://mathcats.com/
http://www.kidsnumbers.com/
http://www.sproutonline.com/sprout/home/jump.aspx
http://www.bigiqkids.com/
http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/home_tumblebooks.asp
https://www.pebblego.com/SelectProduct.aspx
http://www.shamozzle.com/WorldWEBCAMwatchUNDERWATER.html
http://www.neaq.org/education_and_activities/blogs_webcams_videos_and_more/index.php
http://www.neaq.org/education_and_activities/games_and_activities/online_games/index.php

Homemade Phone Book

2011-02-04T07:05:00.000-08:00

When my older daughter was in Kinder or first grade, she was having a little trouble with her writing. I came across this idea in the November 2003 issue of Parents magazine and thought it would be a fun way for her to practice writing her numbers and letters without doing yet another worksheet. I created a book out of construction paper, wrote down names and phone numbers (such as grandparents, home phone, cell phones, work phones), and she copied them down and I corrected when necessary (when she wrote a letter or number backwards). She still uses her own phonebook when she wants to call her grandparents.

Stuck with my kids!

2011-02-02T08:43:00.000-08:00

I’m going to get the electricity related activities out of the way first. They are a legitimate way to pass the time, even if they are not the best choice when trying to conserve energy (in the hottest or coldest part of the year).

Video games (DS, PS3, Wii, Xbox)

Movies

TV (on demand, DVR, rentals)

Music (turn on a CD, MP3 and “move it, move it”)

Now for some more “green” options. As I’m pulling things out of cabinets, my kids are rediscovering toys and activities they had forgotten. Guess this will be a good day to clean out cabinets and closets.

Puzzles – I have plastic baby puzzles, wooden preschool puzzles, and puzzles ranging from 24 piece to 100 piece as well as large floor puzzles.

Card games/board games

Read – read together, read separately. If you don’t have books all over the place like I do, write a story together. Let your imaginations run wild, just be sure to write it down then you can read it again.

Coloring – we have tons of coloring books, but you can create pictures with construction paper or printer paper. Use markers, colored pencils, crayons—have you ever really noticed the different textures that these media produce?

Build a fort – use sheets, blankets, table cloths, couch cushions, dining chairs, tables—then crawl inside.

Paint – I always have water colors around, sometimes from old school supplies. I’ve even heard of people who allow their kids to paint the fiberglass walls of the bathtub. If you have construction paper but no paint, try making designs with plain water.

Playdoh

Beads and lacing – with two girls, we have pony beads to chunky wooden beads. Shoelaces are easy to use (if you’re stuck at home anyway, just swipe the laces from your tennis). If you don’t have beads, or your kids are too little for that, but you have cardboard, old cereal boxes or even paper plates, punch some holes and show them how to “sew”

Crayon rubbings – Did you ever make crayon rubbings out of fall leaves? Go on a hunt for things that a fairly flat and will fit under a piece of paper. Now rub over the sheet of paper with the side of the crayon. Compare the different textures and designs.

Magnifying glass – If you have a magnifying glass (or two) then go on an expedition through your house. Have you ever looked at your fingers, carpet, or toys with a magnifying glass. If you don’t have one, maybe you should look for one (in the office supply section) next time you’re out shopping 

Go through their toys – If your kids are complaining they are bored, ask them if they have played with their own toys in their room. If they only played for a short while or haven’t played at all, ask them which toys they are bored with and would like to give to someone else. They will either quickly go play (like mine) or will start getting rid of things.

Well, there’s the first installment. I’ll let you know if I find anymore treasures as we explore other cabinets and closets ;)

"The Undervalued Self"

2011-01-24T11:00:00.000-08:00

Kids aren’t the only ones who can suffer from low-esteem. What is an adult to do? It can be hard to find the right resources and bootstraps to pull ourselves out of that pit. So I was curious when I came across the article “The Undervalued Self” in Going Bonkers magazine, the self-help magazine with a sense of humor.

The article begins with a story of a young man throwing starfish back into the ocean. Even though he can’t save them all, he has made a difference to those he does save. The moral of the story, of course, is “You make a difference in this world, whether you are aware of it or not. It’s not important if you touch one life or thousands. It’s just important that you exist.” These are great encouraging words for someone who is down on themselves.

All right, so what if you want to change how you feel about yourself, your current situation. You think there might be a light at the end of the tunnel if you could just figure out which tunnel to take. “Yet, somehow, despite the plethora of self-help, goal setting, and how to books, you have yet to make the changes you so desire? The problem may not be in knowing what to do. Nor is it in understanding how to do it. The real issue may be in believing you are worth making the change; that you actually deserve to live a fulfilling and fruitful life.” If you are dealing with a bully type frequently, this can be a hard concept to wrap your head around. Even if you aren’t a Christian and believe God created you for a purpose, I think it still comes down to: while you’re here, you might as well find some way to enjoy it (yeah, I know, someone could really run away with that …).

It can seem easier to stay where you are, even if you feel miserable, because there is comfort in the known, the familiar. You ask yourself what if it doesn’t work? What if this is the wrong tunnel, the wrong change? At what point do I give up, turn around, try something else? And do you know what this article offered as its answer? “You become capable by being capable. You become flexible by being flexible. You become strong by being strong.” What?! I’ve been in the pit where you wonder if anybody really cares? Does it really matter that you exist? How on earth can you “be” capable, flexible, or strong if you have no idea what capable, flexible or strong is?

The article does redeem itself a little as it reminds to value yourself enough to be willing to change. Keep in mind all the little successes in your life, instead of beating yourself up over the failures and mistakes. Try looking at your life, your situation, your approach in a different way to find another solution.

All in all, you are worth it, regardless of your age. Believe you are worth enough to try something. It’s ok if it doesn’t work out. Try something else. Try something different. Don’t give up on yourself.

Sometimes you have to encourage yourself

2010-12-28T09:18:00.000-08:00

Most of the time I talk about encouraging kids in a variety of ways to boost their self-esteem. But what do you do if you’re not a kid anymore or you don’t have someone around who consistently encourages you? Create a folder or box (this can be physical or digital) and keep cards, notes, and momentos that make you smile and keep you going. On those days, in those times, when you are tired of the same-old-same-old or you are afraid of something new, go through your folder or box and remind yourself that you are special and important and of all the people who believe in you.

And a big THANK YOU to all the fans—you are an encouragement to me everyday!

.

Listening to what isn’t said

2010-11-19T12:29:00.001-08:00

I surprised my daughter for lunch at her school's Thanksgiving feast. While I waited in line, two girls vied for my attention. My daughter naturally hung on my arm, claiming me as her own, but these girls still told me their stories. As they talked, I listened. I looked them in the eye. I wonder if anyone at home listens with undivided attention.

By giving them my attention this way, I validated their existence. Now, trust me, I know kids can talk, and talk, and talk … I remember my elementary teachers commenting on my report cards that I was very talkative—almost every 6 weeks! And my girls have, as my husband says, inherited my "gift of gab." But is anything more important than showing your child you care? There is so much more to their stories and tales than what is said. Listen to how they tell, their tone of voice. What details do they put in? What do they leave out? What can you learn from what they don't say?

Bullied Survey

2010-11-15T06:03:00.001-08:00

If you have ever been bullied, please help me help others by filling out this survey. No names are necessary. I will use the information gathered to research how to best help those who are currently being bullied. You can email your completed survey with Bully Survey in the subject line to mailto:jennyrosewriter@yahoo.com If that email does not work, you may use mailto:jwidner76@yahoo.com just be sure Bully Survey is in the subject line. Thank you.

Were you bullied in gradeschool (K-5^th), Middle School (6^th-8^th), Highschool (9^th-12^th), College?
How were you bullied? Physical? Please explain. Verbal? Please explain.
Do you know why you were bullied? Please explain.
How did you react?
If you are completing this survey, then you survived the bullying. What helped you get through it?
Some kids these days are not surviving. They are giving up on themselves, on life. Do you have any advice or encouragement for those who are currently suffering being bullied?

My opinion on Shirvell vs. Armstrong

2010-11-10T06:27:00.001-08:00

I came across this early this week.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/11/08/michigan.asst.attorney.general/index.html

Andrew Shirvell authored a blog against a college Senior and sociology major

Shirvell's lawyer, Phillip Thomas thinks it's political and blaims the liberal media--why, because Shirvell is a Christian?

Shirvell was whining about being bullied? Who's the bully here?

Where is the precedent that the First Amendment allows people to bully others on a blog? The precedent for use of the First Amendment has been related to people complaining about the government. Cox claims that bullying is protected under First Amendment rights?!

But Shirvell didn't get in trouble for the blog (supposedly, I guess because sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can't hurt?)

Shirvell says he is a Christian exercising his First Amendment right--to stand outside the kid's house and call him Satan's representative? That's Christian? What about "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"?

While I'm glad there were repercussions for his actions, I'm disappointed in the logic used.

Connection? Correlation? Coincidence?

2010-11-06T06:50:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, one friend posted this article http://childrensmedicalcenter.blogspot.com/2010/11/costume-is-just-costume-and-bullying-is.html where parents, not children, were being unkind about a child's costume. Then another friend posted how rude customers are, apparently forgetting all manners. There is a group called Social Smarts (http://www.socialsmarts.com/,http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/SocialSmarts?v=info) that has designed an entire curriculum for schools (from toddlers to teenagers) to teach appropriate social skills in order to create a better learning environment and all but eliminate bullying. I remember in elementary school we had a slogan, complete with buttons, "Manners count at SCS." So when did "we" stop using manners? When did "we" forget social skills? Did "we" stop teaching them?

I don't know about you, but I'm starting to see a connection. Bullying is getting worse. Basic manners and social skills are becoming a rarity. What if we respected one another enough to use our manners—please, thank you, excuse me; could we see a decrease in bullying? Sure, sometimes we have to get a little pushy with sales people (the ones who are more concerned about making money than about the customer), but how about if we start with kindness and see how far it takes us.

Hmm…

When Your Child is Hurting by Glynnis Whitwer.

2010-11-01T06:14:00.001-07:00

This is a great Bible study that every parent should read. But there's no reason to wait until your child is hurting and then quickly read this for damage control. This is a great Bible study to do before your child is hurting. The study questions at the end of the chapters encourage you to look at your own life to sort through negative behaviors that we as parents can unwittingly pass on to our kids.

Whitwer covers important topics such as bullying, stress, grief, anger, disappointment, as well as when to consider professional help. While she tells stories from her life and her children's, she doesn't claim to be an expert; just a fellow parent offering advice on what she has found works and why. Frankly, I'm tired of "experts" telling me they know my child. It's refreshing to hear Whitwer's take from the trenches.

I found this book encouraging and thought provoking and will be recommending it to many of my parent friends and my church. We can't put our kids in bubbles, but When Your Child Is Hurting can help parents and kids survive the hurts life inevitably brings.

The last straw

2010-10-25T11:42:00.001-07:00

I found this activity in the March 2008 issue of Family Fun: Constrawction Zone

"Looking for some instant fun on a rainy day? Grab a box of bendable straws and invite your child to try his hand at a building activity that takes all kinds of whimsical twists and turns. Connect the straws by squeezing the end of one and sliding it into the end of another. Kids can also slide straws through one another by snipping a slit (bend straw and cut through the fold, do not cut off the fold). Then they can make twists and turns over, under, and through the structure."

We had some dud straws lying around (cheap 4^th of July red, white and blue straws that all seemed to have holes in them when we tried to use them). This weekend I pulled them out and expected my kids to make a few shapes and be done. My older daughter however spent a couple hours going well beyond a triangle and square to create silhouettes of animals.

From now on, I'm going to keep lots of straws around, just in case!

Challenge: Can you name and create multi-sided shapes such as triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon …

Too hard, too soft, just right

2010-10-18T10:49:00.001-07:00

Ephesians 6:4 (New International Version)

⁴Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

While it is a good thing to teach and train our kids to gradually take on more responsibility, if you are consistently frustrated with your child's performance at a particular task consider if it is age appropriate. We should expect great things of our kids, but sometimes they are not ready (mentally, physically, emotionally). Compare your child's abilities with your expectations and consider adjustments.

Prayer Suggestion: Talk to God about your expectations, for yourself and your kids.

Spreading Seed

2010-10-14T19:35:00.001-07:00

Exodus 12:26 (New International Version)

²⁶ And when your children ask you, 'What does this ceremony mean to you?'

Not only pray with your kids and read the Bible and or Bible stories together, but also let them see you reading your Bible and praying on your own. Allowing them to see God's role in your life is a living witness to them. It could be contagious.

Prayer Suggestion: A.C.T.S.

A is for Adoration - Praising God for who He is

C is for Confess - Agree with God about your sin

T is for Thankful - Gratitude, thanking Him for answered prayers

S is for Supplication - Making your requests known

Forget about it

2010-10-12T09:13:00.001-07:00

Psalm 103 (New International Version)

⁹ He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;

¹² as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Kids will make the same mistakes over and over again. Yes, it's frustrating and annoying, but do every find yourself making the same mistakes? Why hold your kids to a higher standard than you can keep? If there are minor offenses, forgive yourself and your kids.

Prayer Suggestion: Ask God to help you forget about those minor mistakes and remember forgiveness and grace.

Got 2 B Tru

2010-10-06T07:42:00.001-07:00

Colossians 3:23 (New International Version)

²³Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,

Are you trying to be a super-mom or super-dad? Working full-time, being a room-parent, involved in PTA, exercising, cooking everything from scratch, keeping a perfectly clean house …

You can't do it all. You don't have to do it all. Spend some introspective time thinking about what you really enjoy doing. Forget about what you think others think you should be doing. If your child is asking you to do more than you have time or energy for, use this as an opportunity to talk about priorities and choices.

You can be your child's hero without being a super-hero.

Prayer Suggestion: Talk to God about your motivations.

I want to live

2010-10-05T07:27:00.001-07:00

Deuteronomy 30:19 (New International Version)

¹⁹ This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live

Does anything distract you from enjoying your kids or having fun with them? Is it housekeeping? Try doing it together, involve them. Is it the TV? Can you find time for it when your kids are in bed? Or maybe you're watching too much TV. Is it work? Sometimes this is unavoidable. Sometimes you need to find a way to relax from the stress of the day and leave work at work. Are you tired? Can you find a "playschool" so you can have a break or coordinate with a sitter or other parent (perhaps a co-op situation)?

What's the point of being a parent, if you can't enjoy your child(ren)?

Prayer Suggestion: Talk to God about priorities.

Pop culture

2010-10-04T06:01:00.001-07:00

John 14:26 (New International Version)

²⁶But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Research a popular TV show, movie, video game, book, singer, etc. NOW decide if you would expose your child to it. Don't let it stop there. Inform your child why you choose to watch the shoes you do and why you choose not to watch others.

Then ask your child "What if your friends ask you if you watch/listen to/play …?" Help them form an educated response. As they get older, "Because my parents won't let me" will become uncool; but a "I would rather …" or "I don't like …" response shows they are beginning to think for themselves, giving them confidence. It may not squelch all teasing, but your child will not feel completely out of the loop.

Prayer Suggestion: Ask God to give your child courage and wisdom in confrontation.

Sheltered or Protected

2010-10-01T15:15:00.001-07:00

We want to keep our kids safe. It's part of our job description, but there's a difference between protecting our kids and sheltering them. As parents we need to be aware of what is out there (TV, music, movies, books, etc). We can't just hide our heads in the sand. We need to be proactive and plug into resources that help us stay current so we will have a better idea of what our children are dealing with.

If you are keeping your child unaware of all things you deem unacceptable, you are sheltering them. For example, I do not like SpongeBob Squarepants (this is just my opinion and just an example, so no arguments or lectures, please). If I sheltered my daughters, they would not know this show exists, much less why I don't like it and why they are not allowed to watch it. They would not be able to look at anything related to the show. I would have to hide their eyes every time I entered a store. But I try not to shelter my girls. Instead, they know this and other shows exist and why I don't like them and why they are not supposed to watch them. There is some subject matter that my older daughter is not ready to deal with yet. I have explained to her that though her friends watch those shows, that she doesn't need to worry about those topics at this point in her life. I have also told her that it isn't just about the subject matter on the show, but also about making choices. There are other shows and activities (that she can share with her peers) she likes better. This is protecting. I am informed. She is informed, yet protected.

Are all their friends watching or listening to something you don't allow? Why don't you allow it? Can you explain it so your child understands? Can you offer an alternative? When all their friends are doing one thing, and your child must say "My Mommy and Daddy won't let me do that", your child may be teased and called a baby. They may be excluded.
This protective environment is not only evidenced in what shows they watch, but also in the things they do, social skills they have. In a protected environment where a child is not allowed to speak for themselves at appropriate times may be embarrassed in grade school by their undeveloped social skills

Keeping yourself and your child informed will increase their confidence and self-esteem. Your child will be able to deal with why they don't do certain things in the face of their peers. The more confidence your child has, the less you as a parent need to stress about what they are exposed to.

You can't keep your kids so safe, so sheltered that they live in a bubble or under a rock. Otherwise when they are in the real world they 1) won't be able to deal with it and become more withdrawn further stunting their social skills and affecting work and relationships; 2) try everything you told them not to.

Eenie, meenie, minie, moe

2010-09-30T10:33:00.001-07:00

Psalm 34:11
Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Physical Touch

Tender squeeze of the shoulders
High five

Words of Affirmation

"I like it when you …"
"You did a good job when…"

Quality Time

board game
craft

Gifts

a necessary item that's special (cartoon character, special scent or flavor)
pick out something to give to someone else

Acts of Service

Teach them a new chore
do one of their chores for them

Prayer Suggestion: Ask God to help you show Jesus to someone today.

Tic, Tact, Toe

2010-09-28T06:46:00.001-07:00

Proverbs 12:18 (New International Version)

¹⁸ Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Kids will say whatever comes to mind. They may be brutally honest. Train your child, leading by example, how to encourage and look for the good in others. Help them look for those who need a friend and reach out to them.

Prayer Suggestion: Ask God to help you and your child choose your words carefully

Borrowed post on bullying

2010-09-27T08:48:00.001-07:00

Today is a special post on bullying that I borrowed from Glynnis Whitwer, author of When Your Child is Hurting.

"Should you stand up to a bully?"

You might think the topic of bullying isn't fitting for a devotion. Yet, throughout Scripture we see God's heart for those oppressed. Psalm 9:8-9 (New International Version)

⁸ He will judge the world in righteousness;
he will govern the peoples with justice.

⁹ The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.

Jesus was sent to bring hope and help to those oppressed. He read these words written by the prophet Isaiah about Himself: Luke 4:17-19 (New International Version)

¹⁷The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
¹⁸"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
      because he has anointed me
      to preach good news to the poor.
   He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
      and recovery of sight for the blind,
   to release the oppressed,
    ¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

And this same loving God calls us to a life of mercy and justice: Micah 6:8 (New International Version)

⁸ He has showed you, O man, what is good.
       And what does the LORD require of you?
       To act justly and to love mercy
       and to walk humbly with your God.

I sense a call to action when it comes to bullies. As I said in my devotion, tolerating offense willingly is one thing. Submitting out of fear is another. I believe it's time to empower our children to stand up to bullies and not pretend it isn't happening. Because it is in alarming numbers.

So what can parents do if you think your child is being bullied? Here are a few tips from my book, "When Your Child is Hurting:"

Identify if the actions are true bullying or just childish meanness. A definition for bullying might be when one child or a group regularly torments another child psychologically or physically.

If it's bullying, allow your child to talk uninterrupted about the problem. Show compassion and empathy, but not anger. Let your child know you take his comments very seriously, but don't over-react. Share your own experiences to let your child know she isn't alone.

Then casually ask specifics such as:

Refrain from interrogation techniques, and write down the answers without your child seeing you.

If your child has any injuries to herself or her possessions, take photos. Do this calmly, without making a big deal.

By this point you probably want to take matters into your own hands, but don't. It's important for your child to handle it as much as possible. Remember, you are training him to deal with bullies the rest of his life.

What you do next depends on the extent and the location of the offense. If something criminal happened, you have a responsibility to report it to the police. If it happened at school, a library, after-school program or other public place, you and your child together should report it to those authorities. If the offense was relatively minor, you can help your child deal with it one-on-one, and with God's help, take steps now to avoid any further bullying.

Steps to avoid bullying

Some simple practices can help you bully-proof your child. I think most parents would agree that it's better to be pro-active than re-active when it comes to bullies. Most experts agree on the following:

Connect with friends – Having a group of true friends is one of the best defenses against bullies. True friends affirm your child's worth and value. True friends will stick up for your child in a difficult situation. Empower your child to do the same for his friends.

Be direct – Teach your child to be honest and direct about what she wants or needs. This is a good training ground for setting healthy boundaries.

Respond calmly to a situation – When your child is hurt or offended, teach him to respond calmly, rather than give in to emotions and react. Taking a minute to think through a situation and formulate a response will help your child learn self-control and teach him relationship-building skills.

Stand up for yourself – As your child learns her worth is based in her position as a child of God, she begins to see her value. No one has the right to intimidate her, or her friends. There should be a sense of holy justice that rises up in us when we understand that fact. When someone bullies your child, she has the right, and the responsibility, to tell the bully to stop. This starts at home. Allow your child to speak his mind freely with respect.

Be assertive, not aggressive – Teach your child the difference between standing up for what is right, and retaliating. As Christians we follow a moral code of how to treat each other, given to us by a holy God. We have the right to speak out against injustice.

Teach social skills – We all need to learn how to live in community with others. If you see your child has a difficult time relating to children her age, spend some time going over rules of common courtesy.

Thank you, Glynnis, for letting me repost this. You can check out Glynnis's blog at http://www.glynniswhitwer.blogspot.com/

Finding Time

2010-09-23T04:46:00.001-07:00

Jeremiah 6:16 (New International Version)

¹⁶ This is what the LORD says:
"Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'

We all have routines and things we like to do. Maybe, just once, you could leave the dishes a little longer, skip the TV show, or maybe it's staying away from Facebook for a day. Instead, spend extra time with your child—or even together as a family.

Prayer Suggestion: Talk to God about your time.

Them’s fightin’ words

2010-09-22T06:13:00.001-07:00

Romans 8:6 (New International Version)

⁶The mind of sinful man^[^a] is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;

Do you find yourself fighting or arguing with your child more? When you're both calm, try discussing it with your child to find a cause or reason. By yourself, brainstorm causes or reasons. Do you know what usually triggers it? Are they growing up, maturing, and you need to adjust? Are there changes going on? Is it something at school? Try your best to find a resolution or a compromise. It is important to keep communication open and salvage the relationship.

Prayer Suggestion: Ask God to help you help your child understand their emotions and articulate them.

Send off

2010-09-20T04:25:00.001-07:00

3 John 1:14 (New International Version)

¹⁴I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.

What do you say to your child as you send them off to school? Remember what you say and do carries them through their day.

Do you have a bedtime routine? This can be valuable quality time to wrap up your day. You can talk about what happened, read a book, make up a story—whatever it is, make it special. Even if you think they have outgrown a "bedtime routine" find a time—maybe not at the end of each day, but at least the end of the week—to keep up with their life.

Prayer Suggestion: Ask God to stay with your child when you can't.

Greetings and Salutations

2010-09-17T06:16:00.001-07:00

1 Peter 5:14 (New International Version)

¹⁴Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

How do you greet your child in the morning? After school? Can you think of a new way to greet them or welcome them home that lets them know how much you love them?

Prayer Suggestion: How do you greet God in your prayer? Include praise and adoration today.

Bullying vs Teasing

2010-09-16T05:08:00.001-07:00

I've been hearing a lot about bullying lately from different sources. Here are my thoughts.

Dictionary.com defines tease:

1.to irritate or provoke with persistent petty distractions, trifling raillery, or other annoyance, often in sport.

And bully:

(n)1. a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates smaller or weaker people.

(v)6. to act the bully toward; intimidate; domineer.

Teasing is supposed to be done in fun, without the intent to hurt. Bullying, however, is intended to hurt and intimidate. I think teasing is a necessary part of life so that we can all learn to laugh off and laugh at our blunders. Children need to be taught the difference. Children need to be taught to consider the feelings of others. It is true that some people are more sensitive than others. But is someone is extra sensitive about something and "your" intent was to tease, then "your" response should be to apologize, love on them, and build them up again. A bully wouldn't care.

My question, where would you draw the line between teasing and bullying? Do you think it is an easily defined line, a fine line, or a gray area?

Action vs Reaction

2010-09-15T06:22:00.001-07:00

Galatians 6:4 (New International Version)

⁴Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else,

Our kids can irritate us. Write down some of the ways your kids irritate, bug, or frustrate you. Brainstorm some solutions. Talk to other parents. Talk to older parents.

Now brainstorm new reactions for yourself. We can't always change or control our kids, but we can control and change our own reaction.

Prayer Suggestion: Ask God to show you what you need to change about you

Penny for your thoughts

2010-09-14T05:19:00.001-07:00

Proverbs 18:15 (New International Version)

¹⁵ The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge;
the ears of the wise seek it out.

Ask your child if there is anything they wish they could change—about themselves, about chores, about the way things are done, about anything. You might be surprised what is on their mind.

Prayer Suggestion: Ask God for discernment.

Growing Sponges

2010-09-13T20:33:00.001-07:00

Joshua 1:9 (New International Version)

⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Is there an activity or something new you can encourage your child to try? Encourage them to try something new. Expose them to new experiences. As you stretch you grow and learn to adjust you become a more well-rounded person. Young children are like little sponges. Just be careful not to overwhelm and try to do too much at once. Pace yourselves and have fun!

Prayer Suggestion: Ask God to help you and your child choose opportunities and experiences.

What’s up

2010-09-10T06:35:00.001-07:00

Psalm 51:6 (New International Version)

⁶ Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ^[^a^] ;
you teach ^[^b^] me wisdom in the inmost place.

Ask your child how they are doing, how was their day at school? Have a conversation. Pay attention. Ask about their friends. Ask what they like to do. Ask them what is popular. Don't treat it like an interview though. Listen. What's similar to when you were growing up? What's changed? The important thing is to show your child that you are open and willing to talk about anything; and to try to be the one who knows your child best.

Prayer Suggestion: Ask God to help you have a sincere conversation with your child.

Rain, rain, let it rain

2010-09-08T11:29:00.001-07:00

Deuteronomy 32:2 (New International Version)

² Let my teaching fall like rain
and my words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass,
like abundant rain on tender plants.

I usually like rainy days. I find them inspirational and spiritual in a way. Although there are the rainy days when my kids whine and fuss and fight. Those are the times when I must rely on divine creative inspiration. What will the weather inspire you to do today? Curl up together and read a book? Do something by candlelight? Build a fort? Color? Do a puzzle? Play a game? Even popcorn and a movie can be quality time if you have the right heart attitude and mindset.

Prayer Suggestion: Ask for God's inspiration and creativity.

Don’t be afraid to try

2010-09-07T08:25:00.001-07:00

2 Corinthians 9:8 (New International Version)

⁸And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

It's ok to try something that may not work. You won't know until you try. You may stumble onto a wonderful solution. And if it doesn't work, you and your kids will survive, bounce back and try something else.

Prayer Suggestion: Ask God for new ideas.

Other things to grow

2010-09-03T20:08:00.001-07:00

It's fun to watch plants grow from a seed: beans, flowers, grass. I wanted to do something different (try something new!) I was thinking there was a way to grow an avocado pit and remembered as a kid that potatoes would start to sprout if left in the pantry too long. I bought an avocado and did a little research on the internet

http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/seed/2002114535011263.html

I couldn't find anything on the potato, so I stuck it in the pantry and forgot about it. Literally.

Now 3-4 weeks later, this is the progress:

Try something new

2010-09-02T05:07:00.001-07:00

Ecclesiastes 3:1,4,7 (NIV)
1There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven …

4a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance …

7a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak …

When was the last time you tried something new? Could you try a new hobby? Learn a new skill? You're never too old to learn and grow. Do you need to release some stress or find a way to relax? I find it's easier to deal with curve balls and monkey wrenches when I don't have pent up stress.

Prayer Suggestion: Ask God to give you the patience and the courage to try something new.