I'm a mom on a mission to get my kids through the jungle of puberty while keeping my sanity along the journey.
Welcome
Join me in my daily walk through the joys and struggles of parenthood. Share a word of encouragement or be encouraged. Cry a little, laugh a lot, but know it is all in divine order.
As you get dressed today, remember to also wear your best smile. Why? It's National Smile day.
Smiles are powerful. They can connect people, ease tension and they can brighten someone's day. A healthy smile can help you develop confidence. Test it out now. Pick up a mirror and smile at yourself, give yourself a wink. Now share that glamorous smile with someone today.
Do you
remember that childhood chant, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names
will never hurt me?” Well, words can hurt, but they can also encourage, inspire
and provide comfort.
Here are some
of my favorite inspirational words…
·“Whether
you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right”
·“I
can – I will – I do”
·“Every
expert person was once a beginner”
Words have
power. Words can transform our lives.
Today is
Memorial Day. It’s the day we celebrate fallen soldiers. We remember the men
and women in the military, who lost their lives serving our country. Your
service is appreciated.
To the
military families who have lost loved ones, be encouraged.
“God is
fixing the broken pieces of your life. Get ready for restoration. God is
preparing you for everything.” Women_of_prayer (Instagram)
Do you have
a favorite quote or affirmation? Use your words to encourage someone today.
Did you know
that laughing is good for your health? It’s true. A good laugh exercises the
muscles, gets blood flowing and it makes you feel good. Find something to laugh
about today.
Below are
jokes I came across and wanted to share with you. Some of these I have shared
in the past.
Prayer
A woman
invited some people for dinner. At the table, she turned to their six year old
daughter and said, “Would you like to say the blessing?”
“I wouldn’t
know what to say,” the girl replied.
“Just say
what you hear Mommy say,” the woman replied.
The daughter
bowed her head and said, “Lord why did I invite all of these people to dinner?”
Joke credit
The Seagull
A
four-year-old boy and his father went to the beach. There was a dead seagull
lying on the sand. The boy asked his father, “Dad what happened to the birdie?”
His father
told him, “Son the bird died and went to heaven.”
Then the boy
asked, “And God threw him back down?”
The Lamp
A
six-year-old boy called his mother from his friend Charlie’s house and
confessed he had broken a lamp when he threw a football in their living room.
“But, mom,”
he said brightening, “you don’ have to worry about buying another one.
Charlie’s mom said it was irreplaceable.”
Teacher vs Mother
Summer
vacation was over and little Mac returned back to school.
Only two
days later his teacher called his mother to tell her that Mac was misbehaving.
“Wait a
minute,” the mother said, “I had Mac with me for three months and I never
called you once when he misbehaved!”
The Haircut
Little
five-year-old Johnny was in the bathtub and his mom was washing his hair. “Wow
your hair is growing fast! You need a hair cut again.”
Little
Johnny replied, “Maybe you should stop watering it so much.”
Laugh as
often as you can. A laugh a day helps keep stress at bay.
It was
Sunday morning service at church, women filed through the doors wearing outfits
in soft yellows, blues, and peach. It was Women’s Day, the suggested colors were
pastels, but more importantly, the theme of the day was, Me Too, I am God’s Masterpiece.
The English Oxford Dictionary defines masterpiece as a work of outstanding artistry, skill or
workmanship. The Bible says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us
anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
Ephesians 2:10
In the midst
of confusion, fear, and doubt it is difficult to see ourselves as God’s
masterpiece. We have to remember that each of us was uniquely created for a purpose
and on purpose. When we study God’s word
we learn that He wants all that is good for us. He sees us as a beautiful
creation.
Photo Credit: Alisha Woods Ann Arbor's Goddess 5K Run for Ovarian Cancer
Do you want
to feel healthier? Take steps to focus on your health beginning today. It’s
National Women’s Health Week, celebrated each year beginning on Mother’s Day.
You can take charge of your health by becoming active, schedule preventative
health screenings and eating healthy.
An article
in Women’s Health provides a seven-day plan. The plan for day one says, never
miss a Monday workout. It says to do your toughest workout on this day because
you more rested than later in the week. One doctor was quoted as saying, “start
Monday like you’ve already won the week (Robin Berzin, MD).”
Other advice
suggested by Women’s Health said to meditate daily, meal prep, and take a day
to relax. We have to learn to listen to our bodies; when you are feeling
tired…rest. My mother is infamous for saying, “your body needs to rest to
refuel.”
Is there an
area in your health that you’ve been planning to work on? National Women’s Health
Week is an opportune time to make your health a priority. Read the full article
in Women’s Health by clicking here
The tune of Pomp
and Circumstance is playing in my head.My
eyes tear up, causing my vision to blur. In less than two weeks I’ll make the
trek across two states to see my son graduate…maybe.
We have run
into a bit of a hiccup, a slight problem. There are four of us who planned to
attend my sons’ graduation. However, the letter that arrived in the mail
indicated that, “…each student will receive three tickets. No additional tickets will be given due to the
capacity of the facility.”
Dilemma. Who
will attend the graduation and who will remain behind – Mom, Dad, Brother,
Granny? Perhaps we’ll have to draw straws or play Eeny meeny, miny, moe to
determine the graduation attendees. I asked, no one would agree to this.
Here’s each
family member’s argument (from my point of view)…
Mom – I carried
him nine months, went to every pre-school soccer game, basketball, football,
parent-teacher conferences, gritted my teeth through homework assignments and
so on.
Dad – helped
with homework, disciplined with tough love, taught him to drive…
Brother – he’s
my brother and that’s enough
Granny –
prayed the hardest, provided guidance, unconditional love
I came up
with the above arguments without asking each family member. What shall we do
about attending graduation? Here are a few options.
A.Tell brother “too bad, so sad” you have to
stay home
B.Take a ladder and scale the side of
the building and peek through a window to see the graduation ceremony
C.Everyone takes the trip and make a
decision once at the graduation location
D.None of the above
Two family
members have said that they will stay behind so someone else can attend the
graduation.
Hint: It wasn’t me.
One positive
thing about this dilemma is that the graduation ceremony can be viewed live stream.
In less than
two weeks, the tune of Pomp and Circumstance will be played live as my graduate
crosses the room and shakes the hand of a college dean. Another memorable
family moment. Is it more important to be there in person or is the end goal to
show love and support however that can be accomplished.
Have you ever
faced a family dilemma such as our graduation situation? What approach would
you take with a dilemma such as ours?
National Gardens Day is celebrated the Friday before Mother's Day. It was established to bring awareness to public botanical gardens, arboretums, and zoos.
Below are gardens in Michigan.
Photo Credit: Pure Michigan Leila Arboretum - Battle Creek, MI
Frederik Meijer Gardens - Grand Rapids, MI
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Meijer Gardens
Photo Credit: Trover
Meijer Gardens
Photo Credit: Zone Five and a Half
Matthaei Botanical Garden - Ann Arbor, MI
Photo Credit: Arts and Culture - Univesity of Michigan
Matthaei Botanical Garden
Photo Credit: gardenvisit.com
Name your favorite garden, zoo, or arboretum to visit or one you would like to visit.
Downward
Dog, Child’s Play, and Triangle Pose. I learned to speak Yoga and encouraged my body to do the same. My body looked the part
in grey flare-leg yoga pants and a loose fitting top. However, my legs trembled
in Tree Pose and I had to pop one eye open with seated poses (Just to be sure I
was performing them correctly).
Barefoot and
lying on my back, the white towel underneath my torso and head served as the
yoga mat I’d forgotten to bring. I was determined to try this form of exercise
that I’ve heard has so many benefits. The lights were low, the instructor
directed our movements in a low soft voice. I arched my back into a bridge
position.
I’m not new
to exercise, but when it comes to yoga, I am a novice, a newbie, a girl who
doesn’t know what the heck she’s doing. This form of exercising is like
learning a new language for me. The thought occurred to me, how do I teach this
new language to my body? Simple, one bridge, tree pose and ankle rotation at a
time. You take baby steps.
Do you
remember when you first learned to ride a bike? You started out with training
wheels. When you felt a little confidence, you took off one training wheel, you
could still lean to the training wheel side if you felt your confidence
slipping. This was only my second time participating in a yoga class.
On my next
visit to a yoga class I will know a little more of the language and how to
carry out the poses. My leg will tremble a little less in tree pose, my bridge
will be a little higher and my ankle rotations may not crackle as much. I am
teaching my body to twist, bend, and stretch through the language of yoga.
Yoga may not
be the fitness language you’re teaching your body. Could it be Zumba, Burpees,
Martial Arts or something else new that you’re trying?
What new
language do you want to teach your body? If I can do it, so can you.
“Health is
wealth.” I heard this statement on the radio the other day. Two radio
personalities were discussing the importance of health. They talked about
investing in your health. Not long after that broadcast, I read National
Fitness Day is celebrated the first Saturday in May.
National
Fitness Day is a great reason to make time to invest in your health. Put in the
sweat equity and you benefit from the results. No excuses. Begin where you are.
If you have not exercised in a long time, begin by rolling off of the couch and
going for a walk. Strengthen your arm muscles by completing a set of curls
using gallon milk jugs.
If you are
one who exercises regularly, step up your game for National Fitness Day.
Challenge yourself by adding something new to your workout. If you lift weights, increase the size of your weights. If you typically run a mile, go for a mile
and a half. Have you ever wanted to try Yoga, Zumba or martial arts? Go for it.
National
Fitness Day is about celebrating the “strength and empowerment” found through
fitness. It’s about challenging yourself to grow. Click here to learn more
about National Fitness Day.
April showers bring May flowers. This familiar saying can be
applied to the figurative storms of life. You have to look for the good that
surfaces after a storm. While going through a storm, find ways to rise above
your personal clouds. There is sunshine waiting.
Below are three of my favorite quotes for weathering a storm.
1.“A
set back is a set up for a comeback.” Les Brown
2.“When
like knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up, you
can get up. Let your reason get you back up.”Les Brown
3.“Never
make a permanent decision based on a temporary storm. No matter how raging the
billows are today, remind yourself: ‘This too shall pass’”T. D. Jakes
There is a blessing on the other side of a storm. Think about
the rainbow that dances like a ribbon across the sky after a rain. A
transformation has taken place. You are resilient. Rise above your challenges
and come back stronger.
