a voice like that

I haven't written on music for awhile! I wanted to share one of my favorites singing at her best. Eva Cassidy has a voice that puts full meaning to the words. She doesn't hit each note perfectly as far as tone goes, but that doesn't detract one bit from the overall effect, which is, well, you have to find out for yourself. :) In my Dad's words, "Anybody can play the notes. You gotta feel it!" It is a melancholic snowy day up North, so this is for you! Red Red Rose

its not wasting time

(image:footage.shutterstock.com)

Some people think of the time moms spend together as time frivolously spent. If its directed toward another aim like that of providing a playdate for the children, then it can be excused. But what of the coffees women set up during the week for themselves? If there is a bit of time left to oneself, should it be spent solely doing laundry?

Let's start with some assumptions. In economic terms, these are always the base-line parameters that help one set up theories. Moms that work from the home can be with the children from anywhere between  15-17 hours a day. This doesn't include moms of newborns or moms of kids with health problems, because then it bumps it up to 24 hours a day. This is especially so when you have a family larger than one child because some are very small while the older ones are at school. Those are facts, not complaints, and they come with the territory of being a mom who chooses to stay home. And anyone who knows anything of what moms do its nothing short of educating the entire person(s) for the hours mentioned previously.

I believe that part of the week must include time spent with friends, hashing out ideas and sharing the week's demands. Its not wasting time. Its the natural part of life regarding friendship and it means taking care of oneself and one's friends. Perhaps it was more natural when more moms were in the neighborhood. But it is needed more than ever. And I'll venture to say it for women of all ages and states in life!

So if it isn't a part of your regular routine, by golly make it! :)

blind vs. informed obedience

(image: www.smasupport.com)


We're parents. We feel strongly about being listened to. And our culture speaks strongly about obedience as well. Often, a blind obedience is inferred. 

But I question that. As an adult, I find it hard to obey the law of order and do the dishes when I should. It's hard to do the thing we ought to be doing at all times, or even most of the time. Thankfully, I know how important the feeling of a clean home is, and it helps me move along ( usually;).

So take a child who is primarily governed by his own desire for pleasure. He needs to know why something is off limits, better put off, better in small doses, etc. Understanding  will certainly not make him choose the good action automatically, but it sure does help.

Take my three year old for example. This morning he had a pencil sharpener in his hand and one of us said,"don't put your finger in there because it is sharp." I added,"it is a knife." And he promptly said "no, it's not," because to him it didn't look like an ordinary knife. He'd never looked closely. So we looked at the blades and felt how hard a pencil is. I explained it had to be pretty sharp to cut that. Then we felt his finger and how soft it was. The conclusion was obvious to him.

I give this example because we are increasingly in a world where children are presented with many interesting diversions. If obedience to produce good behavior is all we are after, than blind obedience will be our route. But if we want to form intelligent brings who know why they are doing something, even if at present they don't like it (remember, they are governed by their whims as children. An interesting diversion: Am I? If so, does that make me the adult I say I am?:), they will know why they don't play with fire and grasp the consequences of their freedom.

Have a marvelous day, friends!

memories already made

Live

photo credit:

http://bestraw.deviantart.com/art/Prova-a-prendermiii-138529231

( image: www.tumblr.com)

Our kids love looking at the pictures of our family and friends that pop up as our screen saver. Tonight I happened to stop after a full day and just see what pictures randomly came up. In only a few minutes, calm and peace came over me. What a joy to see them at different stages of their lives, with different people that mean something to us, and especially sharing candid moments together. These memories are an easy and instant reminder of how much our lives together have really held and meant. Memories are certainly made of this.

Have a wonderful beginning of the week, friends!

one man band

Ever have one of these days when you are trying to get everyone out the door on time for school?

(image: funventure.blogspot.com)

Or one of these when you are entertaining the world around you with parenting? 

(image: mazeville.blogspot.com)

Yep, me too. :) Have a wonderful day, friends!

new flowers forming

I know this purple flower well. It is always so wispy and beautiful! But when my son handed me one this morning, I was struck by the very different flower forming inside of the purple one. How could that have come from the purple one? Everything about it is different. And it wasn't there a few months ago.

Doesn't life sometimes present itself to us like that? We have something beautiful and think we know it, but then it changes and more beauty springs from it.

That's it for today. I hope the new year is off to a great start.

Have a wonderful day, friends!

the three kings

(image:isaczermak.com, "the three wise men)

What does this day bring to mind? Several things. Among them, the sacrificial searching of grown and wise men, paying humble homage to a Child, a baby King, whom they trust is King of Israel because of a simple and splendid star. Even the heavens proclaimed his reign!

And what does Jesus say from the throne if his cradle? Childhood, life, humanity is sacred and oh so adorable.

Have a wonderful day, friends!