And The Soul Felt It's Worth

I read this wonderful book that was recommended to me this past month and even had a lovely book discussion with a wonderful young friend!
We had tea while the children played and a nice lunch together!
It was such an enjoyable time! 
The wonderful book is titled Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27840585-present-over-perfect

I loved so many things about this book and I highly recommend reading it but my favorite part by far was the chapter titled, The Soul Felt It's Worth based on the Christmas hymn 'O Holy Night!'
Like the author, I have always loved this beautiful song and sang along with the beautiful lyrics but never fully comprehended the deeper meaning of the words until Shauna pointed them out in the book!

O Holy Night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear'd and the soul felt it's worth.
A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Till he appear'd and the soul felt it's worth!
The soul felt it's worth! When Jesus appeared! The soul felt it's worth when He appeared!
Wow! 
Our worth is in Him alone!
Not in anything this world has to offer!
Not in the hustle and bustle of life, or getting it all done or looking Pinterest perfect or striving and driving and doing and building and dieting and exercising and cleaning and shopping and buying more and more and more! Or wearing the latest fashions or trying to fit in with this or that group!
Or whatever it is we're doing!
Ahhhh! The madness can stop right now!!
Because when He appeared our soul felt it's worth!
We can breathe a sigh of relief with this TRUTH!
So beautiful and perfect!
My soul felt it's worth! My soul felt it's worth!
May the knowledge of this truth set you free this Christmas and all the days ahead!
The soul felt it's worth on that first Christmas long ago!
I wish you a Merry, Beautiful, Blessed Christmas!

Do It For The Joy!

I came across this simple phrase while skimming through my readings last week and immediately knew it was going to be our go-to phrase for the year!
Haven't you all heard of the trend of picking a word for the year?
Well, I guess picking a word for the year is supposed to revolutionize your year for greater purpose and happiness.
I came across this simple phrase and that is what we will go with this year!

If we are struggling with getting things done, 
whatever we need to do, no matter how big or how small,
how tedious or insignificant, great or magnificent,
DO IT FOR THE JOY!
I love it!
It totally pulled me out of my Christmas break laziness!
It is our household motto for the year!
I was all inspired to share it with the family so I had the kids do a simple school assignment, though it would be a good assignment for all of us!
Many times already I've had to tell myself to 'do it for the joy' and it spurred me on to finish the task at hand!
Try it!
It really works!
God bless your New Year!

A New Year

A new year!
Sometimes it's happy.
Sometimes it's not.
Life is full of twists and turns.
Some days are joyful and others are devastating
while most days are somewhere in between as if on cruise control.

How do we hold onto joy in this new year?
Or find it if there is none?
Is there such a thing as being able to thrive in this world with so much 
sorrow all around us?
And what about hope?
Do we dare hope?
Where is joy, anyway?

Does it all come down to resolutions and striving for better this, better that?
I don't think so.

I don't know about you but I can't seem to muster up anything that great over here.
I wonder, where is the joy I had in days gone past 
when I was excited about so much?
What went wrong?
I think it's this cruise control thing.
Just getting by, day by day, without much thought.
And then life throws a few curve balls and, Bam,
ON THE FLOOR!

Are some days just plain hard to get out of bed?
For some, I know it's impossible.
I'm so sorry for your sorrow and heartache.

No matter where life finds us, we CAN find JOY again!
It's not going to be easy.
There will continue to be sorrow.

A new day dawns.
A new day of grace.
A NEW DAY OF GRACE!
New!
Grace!
Joy!
Hope!
Believe!

It is given to us daily!
New strength.
New joy.
New hope.

Give us eyes to see it, Dear Lord!
Wake us from our slumber!
Show us your joy in each new day,
each new year!

If sorrows bring us closer to you, Dear Lord,
may you give us strength to lean on you more in this new year!
Thank you from the bottom of our weary hearts!

"Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD." Psalms 31:24

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." Romans 15:13

May the Lord bless you and keep you always!

Knit Together In Love

It was a beautiful day yesterday sitting on the deck by Lake Walden celebrating my dear friend, Sarah's, birthday!
A wonderful group of ladies took time out of their day to share their love with our treasured friend.
Most of us have been friends since childhood and we laughed about old memories.
We were blessed to have in attendance her mother and mother-in-law who joined in on the fun plus a few young ladies and a handful of children who scurried around us to offer up a delightful mix of youthful energy!
The sun warmed us nicely on this beautiful fall day!
We sang hymns.
Were angels chiming in?
It was beautiful.
Everyone wrote a memory of Sarah and then a question for her to answer.
It was quite fun!
We laughed and reflected and even received a few wonderful lessons on family, faith and the latest rage in household paint colors.
A few opened up about minor or major struggles.
We listened.
We learned.
We laughed.
We shared.

You know what?
We loved!
We loved being together.
We loved being in the fresh air.
We loved the fellowship.

This morning is a new day.
We hear of death and sorrow and heartache.
Our hearts are aching for friends who've loved and lost.
We ache over sickness and loss and uncertainty.
One day our hearts are filled with joy.
The next heartache and sorrow.

I am reminded of what is precious in this life.
Love.
And the relationships we've been blessed with.
God is reminding me that our relationships are the most important thing we have on this earth!
The love of our Heavenly Father the most important relationship of all!
He lovingly calls us to Him, wants us to confide in Him, talk to Him, listen to Him!
He's our Best Friend!
Our Best Friend Forever!
He is constantly giving us unexpected gifts of love:
~a friend out of nowhere.
~a conversation of comfort.
~a smile from a stranger.
~a quiet moment to hear His voice.
~a small child to hug.
~a glorious sunrise.
~the joy of a birthday, a celebration, a birth.
~the comfort only He can give when our hearts are broken.
Can we find joy in that?
When our joy is lost, He gives us His!

Let us find the time to love.
We were created in love~it is part of our identity.
Enjoy it!
Celebrate it!
Give it away!

Life is a gift.
Love is a gift.

"That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love,"
Colossians 2:2

The Beautiful Garden

There is a beautiful garden.
The most beautiful garden in all the world.
The sun never stops shining and love and joy will forever grow.
The tears have been shed, The bloody sweat poured out.
The work is finished.
It is ready for all to enter.
The price is free.

All are welcome into this garden.
It is a place where all hearts find True Love and Joy!
Forever!
Happiness forever!
Joy forever!
And it's for YOU!
All sins have been washed away by the Gardener~
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

"The hour in Gethsemane I never shall forget,
When Christ alone the battle fought,
In grief and bloody sweat.
Gethsemane, Gethsemane, 
I must remember thee,
Where God's eternal Son I saw
In pray'r on bended knee."

"When I among the solemn trees,
In spirit gazed around;
I saw the burden of my sin
On him with judgment bound.
Gethsemane, Gethsemane, 
I must remember thee,
Where God's eternal son I saw
In pray'r on bended knee."

"I saw Him tempted to despair,
By anguish, grief, bent low;
The depth of pain He suffered there
No man can fully know.
Gethsemane, Gethsemane,
I must remember thee,
Where God's eternal Son I saw
In pray'r on bended knee."

"If ever. Lord, my love to Thee
Should cold and fruitless be,
O show me in Gethsemane
Thy suff'ring there for me.
Gethsemane, Gethsemane,
I must remember thee.

Where God's eternal Son I saw
In pray'r on bended knee."
               Author unknown

The story of our Lord's agony in the garden can be found in Luke 23:41-44.
Be happy!
There is no need to fear! 
The agony turns to Joy on Easter morning where the angel at the empty tomb proclaims:

"He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again."  Luke 24:6, 7

Grief turned to JOY!
The promise of that Beautiful Garden!

May all Hearts be filled with Neverending Love, Joy, Praise and Thanksgiving this Easter!
You are all So Loved!

*All drawings done by my children

Laugh, Little Fellow

I came across this poem and fell in love with it!

It is a wonderful reminder to me to be happy always! I have so much to be thankful for!

Laugh, little fellow, laugh and sing

And just be glad for everything!

Be glad for morning and for night,

For sun and stars that laugh with light,

For trees that chuckle in the breeze,

For singing birds and humming bees~

Be one with them, and laugh along

And weave their gladness in your song.

Laugh, little fellow, laugh and sing

And coax the joy from everything;

Take gladness at its fullest worth

And make each hour an hour of mirth,

So that when on the downward slope

Of life the radiant sky of hope

Will bend above you all the way

And make you happy, as today.

Written by Wilbur D. Nesbit

The Simple Living Guide's 28 Secrets to Happiness

I spied this book on the table of a very resourceful young wife one year when a friend and I popped in on her for a quick visit.

It was the very first time I had met her.

She had a table full of canned applesauce and fresh bread warming on the counters.

Hmmm.

I liked this girl already.

She didn't even have to say a word!

So, next to the jars of applesauce, I spy a book:

"The Simple Living Guide" by Janet Luhrs

I searched for it at the library, checked it out, read it and bought it at Border's when I got a 40% off coupon.

It has chapters on:

Time

Money

Work

Simple Pleasures and Romance

Virtues

Families

Gardening

Holidays

Etc.

In the introduction it lists 28 Secrets to Happiness.

1. Live beneath your means and within your seams.

2. Return everything you borrow.

3. Donate blood.

4. Stop blaming other people.

5. Admit it when you make a mistake.

6. Give all the clothes you haven't worn in the last three years to charity.

7. Every day do something nice and try not to get caught.

8. Listen more; talk less.

9. Every day take a 30-minute walk in your neighborhood.

10. Skip 2 meals a week and give the money to the homeless.

11. Strive for excellence, not perfection.

12. Be on time.

13. Don't make excuses.

14. Don't argue.

15. Get organized.

16. Be kind to kind people.

17. Be even kinder to unkind people.

18. Let someone cut ahead of you in line.

19. Take time to be alone.

20. Reread a favorite book.

21. Cultivate good manners.

22. Be humble.

23. Understand and accept that life isn't always fair.

24. Know when to say something.

25. Know when to keep your mouth shut.

26. Don't criticize anyone for 24 hours.

27. Learn from the past, plan for the future, and live in the present.

28. Don't sweat the small stuff.

I like this list.

I would like to add forgiveness to the list.

~To forgive and to be forgiven.

Life is way too complicated without forgiveness!

Other than that, I think it's a wonderful list!

Does anyone have any other ideas?

Let the Sun Shine In!

I was reminded of how much the sun affects our lives, body, mind and spirit!

We all know it gets us in a happier mood!

Just sitting next to a sunny window seems to calm me and bring serenity into my day.

Closing my eyes and bringing my face toward the sun somehow makes me feel loved!

And I know it is because that big bright star that we can see during the day is from our One and Only Heavenly Father who created the entire earth, Universe and me!

So, of course, I feel loved!

Seeing the sun shine on my dirty windows isn't exactly soothing, but if I move past the smudges and get outside and really enjoy the brightness of the day it somehow makes me feel less anxious and so happy!

Cleaning up the yard and getting the garden ready for planting is nourishing to the soul!

I am so thankful to have a 'bit of earth' to sow a few seeds.

The sun lifts our spirits, gives our bodies much needed nutrients and vitamins, and even helps ward off sickness and heal wounds~I believe not just the physical but the emotional as well!

It seems a bit easier to get out into the sunshine on a warm day, but just sitting by a window with cooler weather sun is so good for us!

You have all heard by now the importance of vitamin D and how it helps to build our immune system. In fact, there is quite a list of how beneficial it is to our entire bodies.

You can get sufficient vitamin D from sitting in the sun for 15-20 minutes a day.

If you sit indoors by a window, open it a little to let the fresh air come in.

You can also get it from foods such as wild salmon, fish oil, low-fat milk, and eggs.

You can even take a supplement if you feel that you are not getting enough from food or sunshine.

Dr. Mercola always has so much info on vitamin D and all the latest and greatest reports etc.

You can always visit his website at http://www.mercola.com/.

Let us all enjoy the sun and be reminded of all the blessings that God has given!

Putting our feet to earth and enjoying nature and sunshine as we walk in our neighborhood with a special person or even by ourselves is enough to slow down our minds and ponder the blessings in our lives.

It gives us a bit of time to truly be thankful!

Let the sun shine in!

Let the Son shine in!

Be someone's Sunshine today!

PS:

Our 19 year-old son just announced that he wants to be a chiropractor! I think he would be a great chiropractor! My prayer has always been for God to lead each child down the path HE has created for each one and that we, as parents, can give them the encouragement and confidence they need to go down that path.

I can see now that God has been shaping Shane's life for a path of health, fitness and wellness and I pray that wherever that path leads him that God will bless him with success and happiness!

Happy Monday Mantra

The alarm goes off.

Is it morning already?

Am I ready to face the day?

YES!

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will REJOICE and BE GLAD in it!" (Psalm 118:24)

This is the day the Lord HAS MADE!

I will rejoice and be GLAD in it!

We have a choice!

Be Glad or

Be Mad!

I am going to be glad! I am going to be GLAD!
I AM GOING TO BE GLAD!


I know! I know! It is not always easy to be glad!

But why isn't it?

Hmmm.

I don't know! I guess it is just as easy as it is hard!

I just have to make a choice!

So I am going to say my Happy Monday Mantra all day.

~When I have to wake the kids up 5 times: This is the day the Lord has made! I will rejoice and be glad in it!

~When I trip over stuff left on the stairs: This is the day the Lord has made! I will REJOICE and be glad in it!

~When I spend 30 minutes having to clean the kitchen eventhough it was clean when I went to bed: This is the day the Lord has made! I will rejoice and be GLAD in it!

~When the first child comes down the stairs and says in a sweet, sleepy voice: "Good Morning, Mama!":

Thank you, God, for this day you have made! I am so glad!

I am going to post it on my fridge, the bathroom mirror, near the kitchen sink and in the laundry!

The car would be a good spot, too, as crazy drivers and slow traffic have a tendency to make me forget that I am HAPPY TODAY!

I will go to bed tonight and dream of my GLAD DAY so I can have the same rejoiceful, glad day tomorrow!

Happy Monday!

And Tuesday!

And Wednesday!

And Everyday!

Happy New Year!

My dear husband said his New Year resolution for 2010 is to be happy!


What a fabulous idea!


It is the true meaning of Happy New Year, isn't it?


We all need to find out what truly makes us happy and then to strive toward that happiness!


We can start out by making a list of everything and anything that makes us happy!

Maybe we could do something each day that makes us happy.

It could be as simple as playing beautiful music throughout the day or checking up on your favorite golf blog-that one is for Lenny!

Or maybe a big happiness factor on your list might be to pursue a completely different career or trying something that has always fascinated you, like taking a ride on a Harley Davidson motorcycle or writing a book and getting it published.

Thinking about what makes you truly happy is fun to think about!

Doing things that make us happy will in turn make others happy!

I like Lenny's New Year resolution!

I am going to make it mine, too!

Have a wonderful, happy year!

Boundless Energy!

My top health goal is to have boundless energy! I love to find any information that will help me with increasing my energy and I thought I would share with you what I have found!
~The number one way for me to get more energy is to drink a lot of water to nourish and bathe every cell in the body. Whenever I feel tired I know that I have not had enough water!
There are certain foods that maximize energy, too. Dr. Gillian McKeith, author of the book, You Are What You Eat, has this to say about her list of top energy foods:
1. Sprouts-all types. All types of sprouts (seeds of legumes or grains that have been germinated) are high-energy, life-enhancing foods that help improve, revitalize, strengthen and regenerate your body.
2. Grains. Grains release sugar slowly and give you a steady flow of energy instead of a quick high followed by a low. They are also a good source of B vitamins which are needed to assist the spleen, which jumpstart the energy in your body.
3. Oats. Oats are packed with evergy nutrients and also keep blood glucose levels at an even keel to help maintain concentration and alertness.
4. Parsley. Parsley is a nutrient powerhouse. It contains high levels of vitamin B12, more vitamin than citrus fruits and just about all other known nutrients.
5. Seaweed. Sea vegetables, or seaweeds, are the highest digestible source of all minerals as well as energy-boosting vitamins B and C.
6. Vegetables. The range of B complex vitamins, plus the energy nutrients magnesium and iron, can be found in fresh green (preferably raw) vegetables, such as broccoli, asparagus, and spinach. Broccoli is also a good source of coenzyme Q10, a critical nutrient for energy production at a cellular level.
7. Peaches. Peaches have a high water content and a laxative effect. They alkalinize the bloodstream, regulate the bowel and build the blood. Peaches help eliminate toxins from the body and are a good food to eat on a weight loss program.
8. Flax Seeds. Flax seeds, or linseeds, contain abundant levels of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids (EFAs) and in perfect balance. EFAs are involved in energy production and oxygen transfer.
9. Sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds are packed with magnesium, iron, copper, protein, vitamin B complex, EFAs and zinc. They are great to have on hand for a instant energy pick-me-up!
10. Grapes. Grapes are very high in magnesium which is involved in the first stage of the process that converts energy to glucose.
11. Yams and Squash. Yams are packed with energy minerals and tons of vitamin C. They detoxify and balance the hormones and blood sugar levels. Squash aids in circulation and digestive function.
12. Wheatgrass. Wheatgrass has one of the most prolific array of vitamins, minerals and trace elements. It contains 25 times the nutrients than vegetables. It looks like grass and needs to be juiced. It also comes in a powder, capsule or tablet.
13. Mung Beans. Provides you with tons of energy.

~Eating smaller meals throughout the day instead of bigger, heavier meals, is also a great way to increase energy. The fittest people always say they have more energy when they eat healthy foods often (2 1/2 to 3 hours apart) and always leave the table a tad hungry instead of stuffing themselves. We all know that stuffing ourselves make us tired and lethargic, and sometimes downright sick.

~Dr. McKeith also suggests reducing your intake of sugar, caffeine and dairy foods at lunch and opt instead for brown rice, legumes, yams and sunflower seeds. Also a B Complex vitamin (50 mg) can boost your adrenal function which in turn boosts metabolism and energy.

~Hot water with the herb astragalus and ginseng is a natural source of B vitamins that helps with an afternoon energy slump.

~Small bursts of exercising also is a great energy builder. A brisk walk, your 2 minute body work (see Holiday Health Maintenance Plan in the fitness section) or even a 5 minute stretching or yoga routine.

~Also getting enough sleep is very important to our energy levels. We all know we need 8 hours of sleep, but none of us really seem to get it. The 20 minute cat-nap does wonders in giving us a little recharge throughout the day. Getting adequate sleep helps to keep our minds alert and healthy, thus keeping us happier and even helps us maintain a healthy weight.

~Another great way to feel energized is to be HAPPY! Happy people seem to have so much energy! When I am down and out I have NO energy, but when I am HAPPY, I seem to have tons of it! Doesn't it always seem that way? Please refresh yourself with the 12 Ways To Get Happy post in the happiness section. Whenever I feel a tad down and out, I go over the list just to remind myself that I have a choice and that I have so much to be happy about. Sometimes it is just too easy to feel sorry for myself, so I need a little jumpstart!

I want to have all the energy I need to be able to be the person God created me to be. We CAN have more ENERGY and I hope a few of these ideas can give you the energy YOU need to be the person God created YOU to be!

Blessings of Health to all of you!

Giving

What a beautiful time of year to give since this Christmas season is all about what WE have been given! A precious baby on Christmas day! It is the only gift we need! And since we have been given the Perfect gift, we in turn want to give. Here are some ideas for giving:
Body + Soul magazines's 6 Secrets to giving are:
1. Start with gratitude. Write down what you're most thankful for and make a point to share at least one item on your list.
2. Keep it simple. Small gestures often make the biggest impact. Smile at a stranger, offer someone a sincere compliment, or buy someone lunch for no reason.
3. Give up expectations. Let go of judgments about how your gift will be put to use. Once you've given it, your gift will take care of itself.
4. Receive graciously. Giving without receiving will deplete your energy. Remember to be receptive to what others are eager to share.
5. Wing it. Resist the urge to plan all gift-giving in one sitting. Stay open to the gift-giving
opportunities that occur naturally throughout any given day.
6. Challenge yourself. What are you hesitant to give? Your time? Unconditional love? Ask why and try to let those hang-ups go.

Susan Branch's "The Best Gifts Are Tied With Heartstrings"
The Gift of Enthusiasm: When you go out shopping wear something festive for the season~a pin or a bright scarf or hat. Smile at everyone, spread sunshine, do your part~be an elf!
A Gift of Wonder: Fill your child's closet with balloons so that when he or she opens it there's a big surprise!
A Gift of Love: Enroll someone in your own personal Treat-of-the-Month Club. Make a little coupon that promises one special homemade dish a month, a casserole, or a dessert~very good for someone who might be alone alot.
The Gift of Fun: Take time to romp in the snow~make snow angels & snowmen~go ice skating. Come in cold & frosty to something hot from the stove.
A Gift of Contentedness: Stop everything & count your blessings. Have a nice glass of hot cider in front ot the fire with the one you love. (She said 'champaigne' but I do not wish to encourage the drinking of alcohol so I put in cider!)
The Gift of Pleasure: Tuck a little note into lunchbox or pocket~or maybe into a suitcase. Put in a cartoon or douse it with perfume or stick on some stickers to make it look cute~ say something sweet.
The Gift of Yourself: Your time can be a most precious gift~a phone call or letter~cook a lovely dinner, set a pretty table, & invite good friends.
The Gift of Faith: Before you go to bed on December 31st join hands, say a prayer & make a wish for the coming year.

There are many bible verses about giving. Here are a few:

"Give and it shall be given unto you;" Luke 6:38

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." II Corinthians 9:7

" I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said , It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35

Enjoy the gift of Christmas and all of God's love that goes with it! Remember that our gifts do not have to be grand. Jesus came in the most humble way! It is a good reminder as this busy world seems to pull us into wanting more! We don't need more~we have it ALL in Jesus!

Know that you are loved this Christmas!

10 Thoughts On Whole Living

These ideas came from Body + Soul magazine which I thought were nice to think about.

10 Thoughts On Whole Living:

1. Find a few minutes each day to completely unplug.
2. Giving to others is the most powerful thing we can do for ourselves.
3. See physical fitness as a practice, not a goal.
4. This winter, make it a point to heed your need for solitude.
5. The secret to beautiful skin starts with what you put inside you body.
6. Try doing even the most menial tasks mindfully and with grace.
7. The quality of your connections with other people will carry you further than you think.
8. Just because a no-frills home remedy is simple doesn't mean it won't work.
9. If you want to eat healthier, try giving yourself the benefit of better choices.
10. Home isn't a place. It's a state of mind.

The Lamb

This is one of my favorite poems. It is by William Blake from 'Songs of Innocence', 1789.

It reminds me of all the sweet children in this world that were created so perfectly by God, each one having their own little gifts and blessing the world around them! If every child in this world knew that they were created perfectly and thus geniuses in that they were 'knit together' with so much love and by the most masterful Creator ever, I believe that we would have a little more happiness in this world. So I want to dedicate this poem to all the children in the world that no matter what the world sees them as, that God sees them perfect as He created them down to every last detail to be His perfect little child!

The Lamb by William Blake

Little Lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee?

Gave thee life, and bid thee feed

By the stream and o'er the mead;

Gave thee clothing of delight,

Softest clothing, wooly, bright;

Gave thee such a tender voice,

Making all the vales rejoice?

Little Lamb, I'll tell thee,

Little Lamb, I'll tell thee:

He is called by thy name,

For he calls himself a Lamb.

He is meek, and he is mild;

He became a little child.

I a child, and thou a lamb,

We are called by his name.

Little Lamb, God bless thee!

Little Lamb, God bless thee!

12 Ways To Get Happy!

1. Decide to BE happy! We have a choice, you know!

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24

2. Be thankful! Each day, write down 5 things that you are thankful for.

3. Know that you are special! God created all of us and His work is perfect! He gave each of us gifts! Take time and ask Him to show you what your gifts are and then use them!

4. Do something for someone else! Smile at your loved ones or a stranger. Pick up your neighbors trash cans, send a card to a lonely person. It doesn't have to be grand.

5. Do something fun with a child! Sing! Play outside in the sunshine! You can always sing this song:

I am so glad that our Father in heaven

Tells of His love in the book He has given.

Wonderful things in the bible I see.

This is the dearest that Jesus loves me!

I am so glad that Jesus loves me.

Jesus loves me! Jesus loves me.

I am so glad that Jesus loves me.

Jesus loves even me!

We can't help but be happy singing that song, especially with a child!

6. Exercise

7. Practice yoga and deep breathing-brings oxygen to our cells, relaxing us and bringing on happy hormones.

8. Laugh every day! We might need a little help with this. Just look again to children for inspiration on this. They are always laughing! Have a laughing party: just start laughing even if you have to fake it. Soon you will be laughing because it all is so ridiculous! Laughter heals!

9. Enjoy the simple gift of nature! Just get outside and breathe in the air, shuffle your feet through the leaves, lay down on the grass and try to look for birds. Find shapes in the clouds. Walk by the water and just marvel at all of God's creation!

10. Find someone to love! Your spouse, your children, someone else's child. Call your brother or sister and talk about old times. Take your mom or dad or grandparents out to lunch. Really think about how to find that love again for all of the people in your life. Find others that need loving and share what overflows from your heart.

11. Learn to forgive and try hard to forget!

12. Know that you are loved! God wants us to be happy!

"We love him, because he first loved us!" I John 4:19

"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." John 15:11

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

"Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall reeive, that your joy may be full." John 16:24

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Psalm 16:11

The Blessings of Keeping House-Part 2

Okay, now that we have housecleaning help (remember http://www.flylady.net/) and our sanity in check (remember our 15 minutes in the morning?-see earlier posts), we can get to the most important part of keeping house-Taking care of our loved ones!

It is very important to take care of our health and sanity by exercising, eating well and having a tiny bit of quiet time so that we can take care of the people that we love the most. Getting to bed at a decent hour, planning meals for the week and asking for help with laundry, cleaning and meals really does make it easier to lovingly take care of our spouses, children, parents, etc.
Sometimes we wonder, how can I do it ALL? Well, we don't HAVE to do it all! A little time at home getting grounded and organized and asking everyone to pitch in really makes it easier to get it all done.

Okay, I know someone is laughing right now because they know I do not always have my act together. I know that and just knowing it and not letting it bother me too much makes me healthier in the long run! Who are we trying to please, anyway? Sure, I want a clean house and I really DO try and it actually does get clean most of the time and it certainly goes much smoother when I plan a little ahead of time. You know the old saying 'Failure to plan is planning to fail.' Well, I wouldn't even call it 'failing'. I don't particularly like the word. I call it 'trying'. If we don't try, then ..well, anyway, we should at least 'try'!

Finding the blessings of keeping house really begins at home. I believe it means taking time to enjoy what we have been given and not always trying to keep up the neighbors or trying to do things the way our best friend does things (though it doesn't hurt to try a few things that work for her to see if they might work in your life, too) or even going out and getting more stuff!
Keeping house is really appreciating what God has given us, taking care of and truly being thankful for everything and everyone in it. Even finding joy in the little tasks in life-like laundry and scrubbing the bathroom (I struggle with that one!).

I will never forget one thing that my Mother-in-law said years ago: " We do these things (like helping others without expecting pay or doing our chores) because of what Jesus has done for us!" It sure puts things in perspective. I think of that so often and remind myself and the children when complaining seems to come onto the scene! Please, don't get me wrong! I struggle! A LOT! It just helps to remember it from time to time.

Now that we have our attitude adjusted (hee, hee), we can focus on taking care of our loved ones! Those of us that are married, that means our husbands first! Not the children first! What? Not the children first?! No, not the children but our husbands! We were CREATED to be a helper to our husbands, to please him, and to do everything we can to make life easier for him. Please don't freak out! If we think about it, we will remember our mothers and grandmothers talking about this very thing! Times change very quickly and it's easy to forget what our role is in this changing world!

Some ways to make life easier for our husbands is to try not to complain about every little thing. Believe it or not, there is a nice, subtle way to get our point across! It makes life a little bit easier for him!

Also, making our husband's lunch and sending him off with breakfast is another way to make him feel loved and less stressed.

Showing a little affection unexpectedly does wonders, too!

He will be a completely different man when these subtle changes start happening.

Now, please don't start thinking that I am a perfect wife that never complains or grumble under my breath about having to put his clothes away. There are many times where I have to take a deep breath and remind myself that I am doing this because it is the right thing for me to do, not because I always want to. I DO know how to act like a witch sometimes. But I recognize it now and try to think rationally about my behavior, even fight with myself about doing the right thing. And, you want to know what? My husband ends up being a better husband because of it! Don't for one minute think he is the tougher one! We know better!

So, on a lighter note, here is a cute idea that I got from a book by Emilie Barnes. She makes up a 'Love Basket' that she keeps on hand for certain times in life where hubby might need a little 'boost'. She finds a nice basket, adds cloth napkins, pretty plastic cups and maybe even a tablecloth and when a particular stressful event or even a celebration comes along, she puts in some comfort food and finds time to pull it out and enjoy it with her husband.

Oh great, you might be thinking, when am I going to find time to do all that? You just have to MAKE the time. Next time you are out, stop at the Salvation Army and find your supplies. It is actually fun when you make a specific point to search for these things. I have pulled out the basket only a few times, but it is always waiting for me in my closet, reminding me to stop and make time for more pleasant things. Now that I am thinking about it, I will plan to put something in it tonight and just enjoy a bit of quiet time with my husband. Maybe just some grapes, crackers, chocolate and sparkling juice. (You can make your own by putting 1/2 juice and 1/2 sparkling water.) It is a wonderful benefit for me, too, as I LOVE picnics. I think we will share our 'Love basket' when the kids are in bed right in our room or ,even better, in the living room with a fire going.

But who is going to cut the wood and haul it to the porch? Groan! I won't let it get me down. I will find a way! I have to at least try! I know I will be glad if I do and I know my hubby will be all the better because of it! The whole family benefits and we all live happily ever after!

More on this series later!
Have a wonderful day!

From Blue to Happy

Yesterday, I was feeling a little blue. Now, I am normally a happy girl, but once in awhile the bluesy cloud wants to visit. Good thing the ladies were coming over for a bootcamp style fitness class! It completely transformed the blues to happy! Exercising does wonders for the spirit. Exercising with friends is even better! We worked out hard and enjoyed eachother's company. If you are feeling blue, I challenge you to take 10 minutes to start exercising. Go outside and walk around your house or up and down the driveway. It takes only 10 minutes to clear your mind. Chances are, you will go a little longer once you get going. You will feel more optimistic about your day and you will feel the blues drifting away.
Have a Happy Day! You do have a choice, you know.