It seems everywhere I look today, I am reminded that life is short. From the death of a prominent journalist, to a friend whose nephew has been in a horrific accident, to a family whose poor choices may have contributed to the death of their child. There are reminders all around that there is no promise of tomorrow.
And while I may not know what tomorrow holds, I can choose how to live today. I can laugh more, love more, trust more and worry less. I can choose to enjoy the day whatever that may mean. My life really is just a short ocassion and I want to rise to it.
Lord, show me how fleeting is my life. It really is only a breath. Let my hope rest only in you. (Psalm 39)
Friday, June 13, 2008
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Thoughts on Failure
I read J.K. Rowling's Harvard Commencement Address today and she said some things about failure that were very interesting. You can read her entire speech here. I must confess that I have never read the Harry Potter books - just has not been a real interest for me. This address is so thoughtful and well written as she explores the benefits of failure and the importance of imagination. It is definitely worth taking the time to read.
The thing about failure that stuck out to me most was how she told about her own failure a few years after college graduation. She found herself parenting alone and broke. In her words, "...failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged. I was set free, because my greatest fear had already been realised, and I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life."
Often what we perceive as failure is actually the opportunity to rise to the occasion to live the life we were meant to live.
The thing about failure that stuck out to me most was how she told about her own failure a few years after college graduation. She found herself parenting alone and broke. In her words, "...failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged. I was set free, because my greatest fear had already been realised, and I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life."
Often what we perceive as failure is actually the opportunity to rise to the occasion to live the life we were meant to live.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Teen Years
Some days I wonder if I will survive the teenage years, and I am very new at this teenager thing. Lindsay is just 14, and Alex will be 13 by summer's end. Right now it's not that they are in to crazy stuff, it's that they are venturing out more and more without me. And while I do trust them, I don't trust the world they are exploring - so many dangers, so many opportunities for trouble, so many paths to go down.
I have spent all this time trying to teach them to be confident in who they are, to remember who they belong to. I have spent time reading and discussing the Word with them and helping them discover their unique gifts. They are by no means perfect, but I hope they have learned something along the way. Looks like it is test time. As they venture away from me from time to time, I have to trust they have been filled up with good things and hopefully those good things will come out. I also have to trust God's plan and protection for them, and pray they make wise decisions along the way.
So I guess on days like today when they are out with friends, as I breathe I will pray for God's hand to rest on them.
I have spent all this time trying to teach them to be confident in who they are, to remember who they belong to. I have spent time reading and discussing the Word with them and helping them discover their unique gifts. They are by no means perfect, but I hope they have learned something along the way. Looks like it is test time. As they venture away from me from time to time, I have to trust they have been filled up with good things and hopefully those good things will come out. I also have to trust God's plan and protection for them, and pray they make wise decisions along the way.
So I guess on days like today when they are out with friends, as I breathe I will pray for God's hand to rest on them.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Correction and Praise
I attended a homeschool graduation this weekend and I must say it was very unique. There were seven graduates from seven different homeschools. Each family had their own way of celebrating - some with songs, others with slide show presentations, and every parent had wonderful words to praise and challenge their graduates. It was all very moving.
One mom did share something I have found my self pondering the last few days. She said that as a mom we are always correcting our children. We are always telling them what they have done wrong and what they need to do better, and we do this because we love them and want them to grow into the best person possible. Now if we are homeschooling moms, we get the privilege of this task twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. So on this graduation day she wanted to be sure her child (young adult now) knew that for every one thing done wrong, there were 25 other things done well.
Like I said, I have been pondering those thoughts a lot. There are many days when it feels like all I do is get on someone for something, and while there are plenty of things the kids do well, I am often focused on what needs correcting. So today in the midst of all the correcting, I will make it a point to praise the things they are doing well.
One mom did share something I have found my self pondering the last few days. She said that as a mom we are always correcting our children. We are always telling them what they have done wrong and what they need to do better, and we do this because we love them and want them to grow into the best person possible. Now if we are homeschooling moms, we get the privilege of this task twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. So on this graduation day she wanted to be sure her child (young adult now) knew that for every one thing done wrong, there were 25 other things done well.
Like I said, I have been pondering those thoughts a lot. There are many days when it feels like all I do is get on someone for something, and while there are plenty of things the kids do well, I am often focused on what needs correcting. So today in the midst of all the correcting, I will make it a point to praise the things they are doing well.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Time Well Spent
"We breathe. We pulse. We regenerate. Our hearts beat. Our minds create. 37 seconds, well used, is a lifetime." Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
It seems like we are always chasing after and trying to acquire more stuff. The latest technology, the biggest TV, the hottest video game - always looking for something to entertain us and always experiencing short-lived thrills. Maybe all we really need is more time. Time to be, time to breathe, time to laugh, time to create, time to spend with family and friends.
We don't really know what today holds for us. I mean we have plans and think we know what is in store for today. Our lives are only a breath and can change in the blink of an eye - sometimes for good, sometimes for not so good.
So today we'll breathe, we'll laugh, we'll create and we'll spend the time well.
It seems like we are always chasing after and trying to acquire more stuff. The latest technology, the biggest TV, the hottest video game - always looking for something to entertain us and always experiencing short-lived thrills. Maybe all we really need is more time. Time to be, time to breathe, time to laugh, time to create, time to spend with family and friends.
We don't really know what today holds for us. I mean we have plans and think we know what is in store for today. Our lives are only a breath and can change in the blink of an eye - sometimes for good, sometimes for not so good.
So today we'll breathe, we'll laugh, we'll create and we'll spend the time well.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
The Proper Way to Make Cupcakes
When making cupcakes, it is important to be sure the batter is yummy before filling the cupcake tins.
Next, get some chocolatey batter from the bowl with your spoon.
Carefully put some batter in your cupcake tins like this:
Don't forget to taste it again to be sure it is still yummy!
More batter on the spoon - we're almost done.
Yep, these are yummy!
Time for mommy to put them in the oven.
Making cupcakes was the best part of our day!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Summer Begins
It is a glorious morning! Yesterday we completed our last official day of school. Goodbye to routines, algebra and chemistry. Hello to good books, the backyard and flip flops.
Summer has been beckoning to us for several weeks now making it difficult to focus on anything important. The swing set/fort that Pop built is complete, the pool is up and running and just this week we set up the volleyball/badminton net. In between the last few chemistry and algebra lessons we have ventured out for bike rides and badminton games.
So this morning the kids are sleeping in, the younger cousins are coming to play, the school books will find their way back to the shelves for safe keeping until August and tonight the older kids are off to the new Indiana Jones movie with friends.
Yes, summer is here!
Summer has been beckoning to us for several weeks now making it difficult to focus on anything important. The swing set/fort that Pop built is complete, the pool is up and running and just this week we set up the volleyball/badminton net. In between the last few chemistry and algebra lessons we have ventured out for bike rides and badminton games.
So this morning the kids are sleeping in, the younger cousins are coming to play, the school books will find their way back to the shelves for safe keeping until August and tonight the older kids are off to the new Indiana Jones movie with friends.
Yes, summer is here!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)