The Valley Experiences in Our Life

The Valley Experiences in Our Life

The above link will take you to a video of a sermon I found today while in my sickbed. It was so comforting and true. Enjoy!

On Civility and Shopping with Kids

ISBN 978-0312281182
St. Martin's Press, Feb. 2002

Shopping with kids (however old they may be) evokes real drama.  This was the case today after school, running in for a few groceries at the store. You can just imagine two kids--one quickly pushing the cart, and the other sarcastically trying to help. Jokes and mockery, competing for attention (although just acting their age)…what might have taken 5 minutes, turned into about 25. So, this is normal behavior for tired kids at a store after school, right?

Following the teasing in the parking lot, quarrelling over how to share a candy bar--okay, I was part of that--and, fighting traffic, I was reminded of the national media coverage today on the topic of "civility".  Maybe this is something I need to read about and pass on to my children!

One author and civility expert in the news today was Dr. P.M. Forni. He is an award-winning professor at John Hopkins University. His book, Choosing Civility, was written based on these 25 rules:

1. Pay attention
2. Acknowledge others
3. Think the best
4. Listen
5. Be inclusive
6. Speak kindly
7. Don't speak ill
8. Accept and give praise
9. Respect even a subtle "no"
10. Respect others' opinions
11. Mind your body
12. Be agreeable
13. Keep it down (and rediscover silence)
14. Respect other people's time
15. Respect other people's space
16. Apologize earnestly
17. Assert yourself
18. Avoid personal questions
19. Care for your guests
20. Be a considerate guest
21. Think twice before asking for favors
22. Refrain from idle complaints
23. Accept and give constructive criticism
24. Respect the environment and be gentle
25. Don't shift responsibility and blame

 We could have used more of #13 at the store, and less #17. Just sayin'.

As citizens we have to be more thoughtful and more educated and more informed. I turn on the TV and I see these grown people screaming at each other, and I think, well, if we don't get our civility back, we're in trouble. ~Emmylou Harris

Children are natural mimics who act like their parents despite every effort to teach them good manners.  ~Author Unknown

Teaching civility is an obligation of the family. ~Stephen Carter

"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29)

Have Mercy on Mom

So, last night, our eighth grade daughter was upstairs studying so very intently. Skeptical, after a couple of long hours of her quietly keeping to her room, I went to check on her. Imagining she would be bent over her desk, arduously studying for a test, I found her laying on the floor, falling asleep--in front of the TV. My pity and empathetic sorrow went out the window.

I turned into a mom. What followed were a few minutes of interrogation, scolding, and traditional nagging. Feeling so self-assured and "right", I marched back down the stairs…

…and proceeded to lose my confident footing and fall down the last three steps, slip on the tile floor, break a nail, land on my arm and hurt my back, and stand there sheepishly, while she and her dad stared at me (trying not to laugh).

It took about a minute to "get over myself", but we all got a big chuckle at my expense!

My buddies, Summer 2010

Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.  ~Robert Fulghum

Seize the Snow Day!

We were so happy this week to have a pretty, steady, snowfall. The kind that sticks, and even forced the school system to allow for a snow day. It was the next day that I was still in hibernation mode. My idea was to build a fire, make some coffee, watch TV and enjoy the snow from our comfy, cozy living room. Our 4-year old, Lillian, just wanted to go outside and play. "When can we build a snowman?" --"Not now, it's cold, and you'll get sick." --"But it's okay, I've got my pink boots, and my coat!"  So, after much persuasion, Tim took the three of us out for a quick lunch. Lillian insisted on wearing her sunglasses and then later found her very favorite pink umbrella at Mimi's. Her enthusiasm for the day was contagious and even brought on a few smiles from onlookers at Steak -n Shake! She seized the day and reminded me of the joy of being a little girl, full of life and energy when waking up to SNOW!

Begin doing what you want to do now.  We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand, and melting like a snowflake.  ~Marie Ray

Siblings Share Secrets

My first "motherly words to live by" post will have to be, of course, one all about my children. Tim and I have been blessed with three wonderful gifts from God, each very unique and different in personality from the others!

Sarah loves reading, especially historical fiction and mysteries. This year she was in choir at school, and she has been in band for three years, playing the clarinet (because Mom and Dad did). We have moved a lot, so she doesn't mind traveling, meeting new people, and making new friends. She's a big helper.

Luke is in first grade. Very easy-going, friendly, and quiet, Luke loves all things boyish--cars, trains, Star Wars, Transformers, and videogames. He is learning to read, enjoys drawing, and likes figuring out how things work.

At age 4, Lillian's enthusiasm for life keeps us all on our toes! She treasures her Barbies, Polly Pockets, coloring, puzzles, and animals.

How thankful we are to have this time to watch them grow up and help them learn how to live and love. My hope is that they can appreciate each other throughout their lives, always treasuring each other's company and companionship. May it be so, Lord, may it be so!

  

To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time.

~Clara Ortega

To Blog or Not to Blog

To blog or not to blog? This is a common question these days. What is a blog, and why create one? I googled "blog" and even "mom blog" to see what the current trend is all about.


One definition from this web site is "an online diary; a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a web page." Blogs can be updated daily, and they often reflect the personality of the author. Etymologically, it is the shortened form of Weblog. Usage includes blog, blogged, blogging (v), and blogger (n).


Moms are blessed with an amazing responsibility to nurture and pass on tidbits of instruction, wisdom, and much-needed humor--even when you least expect it! A proverb, book, recipe, photo, fact from history, even a grammar lesson--these are opportunities to connect one generation to the next.


So, this is my hope with this blog. Perhaps, while I create and share my experiences, you and I can be reminded of those valuable, often neglected, motherly words to live by.