Wordless Wednesday - National Hug Day

Happy National Hug Day!

YouTube Video Credit: Love Quotes

Fun Friday – What children say when they pray


When children pray the outcome is often honest and innocently funny. Take a look below at the instances I came across that occurred when children pray.

Johnny had been misbehaving and was sent to his room. After a while he emerged and informed his mother that he had thought it over and then said a prayer. “Fine” said the pleased mother. “If you ask God to help you not misbehave, he will.” “Oh, I didn’t ask Him to help me not misbehave,” said Johnny. I asked Him to help you put up with me.”

A mother was teaching her three-year-old the Lord’s Prayer. For several evenings at bedtime she repeated it after her mother. One night she said she was ready to go solo. The mother listened with pride as she enunciated each word, right up to the end of the prayer. “Lead us not into temptation,” she prayed, “but deliver us some e-mail. Amen”

Little Johnny was softly saying his night prayers kneeling down. And his mother was beside him. “Say your prayers a little louder darling, I can’t hear you, said little Johnny’s mother. “But, I’m not talking to you,” was the instant reply.

A little boy was overheard praying: “Lord if you can’t make me a better boy, don’t worry about it. I’m having a real good time just the way I am.”

One particular four-year-old prayed: “And forgive us our trash baskets, as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.”

For more fun children’s prayers, click here.

What funny thing have you heard a child say lately?

Words of Wisdom - It's You - Motivation

Get energized! Listen to what motivational speaker Les Brown says...

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Muffins with Mom – Reflections

Have you noticed that people are constantly taking photos on their phones? Well, I fit into that category too. So much so that the other day I saw someone taking a photo with a digital camera and my first thought was, I remember those. My teens often ask, “Ma, why do you have to take so many pictures?”

One of them discovered the answer. As we were downloading photos from my phone to another location, my oldest son took out an old photo album. With a chuckle in his throat he said, “Look at me, what was up with my hair?” Then he said, “Look at Granny! I don’t remember that.” Not only did my son stumble across old photos, but he found video that he and his brighter created.

As my son and I scrolled though photographs and reflected on past memories, we also spent time talking. My son posed a question, “Ma, you know how people say…’how do you know where you’re going, if you don’t know where you come from?’ How do you figure that out?”

“You start just as we’re doing now…reflecting.”

We talked more about family history – the traditions during the time my great grandmother grew up; the fact that my grandfather was a boxer when he was in the military during World War II and why certain foods are considered soul food.

Below is a snippet of what my son and I found on our journey of reflecting.

What my son discovered is that our gene pool can be a little silly at times.

I encourage you to spend a little time reflecting with your child, you will be surprised how much there is yet to be discovered.

Words of Wisdom - Smile Power Day

Smile, it increases your face value and it's contagious.  Smile Power Day is celebrated June 25th, share your smile with someone today.

"A laugh is a smile that bursts." Mary H. Waldrip

"Wear a smile and have friends."

"Use your smile to change the world; don't let the world change your smile." Chinese Proverb

"You are somebody's reason to smile." Chinese Proverb

"All people smile in the same language." Proverb

Fun Friday – 5 tips for planning for a teens senior year of high school

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No more backpacks, no more books, no more moms’ dirty looks. This is the end of the school year chant for my son. The excitement of summer is in the air as well as his approaching senior year of high school. How does a parent plan for her child’s senior year of high school?

You can’t lose by starting a college fund when your child is still a toddler, but it’s not too late. Now that you’re in the final stretch…what do you do? My son has already told me that he want to do things BIG. He wants go out to dinner after graduation, have open house, give a speech that he has not been asked to give, and the list goes on.

A special request from my son is that I run to the stage when his name is called. I assured him that I will not have to run. I will already be on the stage, doing back flips, dancing and shouting and any other acrobatic move I can come up with. In addition to that we will have our church nurses on standby with fans and tissues.

Real tips for planning for your teen’s senior year.

1.       Determine what you want to accomplish for your child’s senior year – will you purchase senior pictures, how much do you want to spend? Will you have an open house? Where (reserve it early).

2.       Set a budget – save a set amount from each paycheck (make it realistic).

3.       Create a calendar of events just for senior happenings – list when things are due, e.g. senior dues, Homecoming, prom, yearbook purchase, etc.

4.       Completing college applications/scholarships – start NOW if you haven’t already. Ask your child for a list of colleges he/she would like to attend. Budget for the costs associated with submitting college applications. Check with your child’s school counselor regarding having fees waived if your child receives free or reduced lunch.

5.       Check for outstanding fees due at school – as I stood in line to register my older son for school for one year, we were told he owed $80 for a missing book. My son looked at me with a blank stare. I looked back at him and said, “There goes your new pair of shoes.” After my frustration subsided…a year later, I was glad we found out before graduation day.

BONUS

6.       Take a few deep breaths and enjoy every moment.

Are you ready for senior year? What tips would you suggest in preparation for a teen’s senior year of high school?

Words of Wisdom - Best Friends Day

Call a friend, send a text. send a shout out on Facebook...It's Best Friend's Day!

YouTube Video Credit: wwwlovesme

Muffins with Mom – How to navigate through graduation season

Pomp and circumstance echoed throughout the room as rows and rows of high school students filed in and took their place. I could not distinguish my niece from the others in the sea of white caps, so I waved to everyone… and no one in particular.

This marked the beginning of graduation season for my family. So far we have received six invites to graduations or graduation open houses. How do you navigate through this season of celebration?

Being a parent (aunt, grandparent, cousin or other relative), we eventually experience the excitement of a graduation. Along the way to this “big day” for your child, you can learn a thing or two from others. When my oldest son graduated, we attended open houses of some of his friends and I made mental notes of things we could do. No need to reinvent the wheel, right?

Here’s how I navigate through graduation season:

·         Send congratulation cards to the graduates – you may not be able to attend every celebration you receive an invite to. Don’t feel bad if you can’t make it and don’t stress out trying to get there. A nice card lets them know that you are thinking about them.

·         Collect ideas for your celebration – the day will come that you have to plan a celebration of your own. Make a note of the ideas that you’ve seen and liked; add your own creativity to the same idea.

·         Make it a fun time – take photos…silly photos, playful photos, anything that creates a lasting memory.

If you’re planning a graduation celebration of your own, check out the snack ideas I came across (see below).

 click here details on the ideas above.

Have you attended a graduation celebration this year yet? What was your experience?

Fun Friday – Pre-season jitters – 3 ways to ease the stress of high school football season

The beginning of a football career

My teen son came home from school with a small stack of papers that he pushed into my hands. 

“Here you go, Ma.”

“What’s this?” I asked.

“The football schedule for the upcoming season.”

There were four or five pages filled front and back with information. There was a calendar for each of the next three months, a list of football camps over the summer and a list of meetings and fees.

No it wasn’t overwhelming…said no one ever.

After several deep breaths and rubbing my temples with my fingertips, I was ready to digest football season and all it had in store. My pre-season jitters began to subside and I created ways to manage the stress in planning for the season. Here they are:

1.      Look at the big picture and break it into manageable tasks – identify which items need to be taken care of first; complete health forms, schedule physical.

2.      Establish a budget plan – are there player fees, equipment to be purchased, and other expenses? – My son told me the other day that he needs new cleats. My first questions was, “How much do they cost? Are they about $50?”

My son’s reaction was hearty laugh, then he said, “Ma, you can probably get one cleat for that amount and some laces.”

He told me I would need double the amount I suggested. For that amount I told him I needed him to finish building the fence in the backyard, clean the basement and complete a few other back burner projects.

3.      Ask for help – you don’t have to do everything yourself, its okay to ask for help if it’s needed. Family and friends can help with transportation to practices/games and camps; turn it into an outing. Sometimes my mom will travel to an away game with me, we’ll munch popcorn, chat and even watch most of the game.

Is your child involved in an extracurricular activity? How do you prepare for his/her series of events?

National Doughnut Day

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National Doughnut Day is about more than just consuming a tasty sweet treat. This day, celebrated the first Friday in June, also honors the Salvation Army “Lassies”. These were the women who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I.

In 1917 “lassies were set to the front lines of Europe and the original Salvation Army Doughnut was served. Often doughnuts were cooked “in oil inside the metal helmets of American soldiers” (National Day Calendars).

photo credit

Celebrate National Doughnut Day with a sweet treat and bit of history about Doughnut Day.