What a lovely day!

God is on His throne, the sun is shining, daffodils are blooming and the promise of spring has arrived.

 

It's one of those day you just want to get outdoors and do something -- like dig in the flower beds or take a walk or just let the sun shine on the top of your head and warm you all the way down to your toes.  After a bone-chilling winter, it's a great season to celebrate the goodness of God and watch the earth awaken from her winter rest.

Once upon a time (so many years ago), I would gather the kiddos and head outdoors for a bit of spring-time adventure.  Sometimes we poked new flower seeds in the ground.  Other times we hiked around the loop (Woods Point Drive in Catlettsburg, KY) or rode our bikes down the hill out front. It was more like a slope, but to our little ones, it probably seemed like a mountain.

If we aren't careful, our children can easily become jaded by being entertained...

 

... and when that happens, we parents will have a harder time finding something bigger, better or with more "bling" to catch their eye and keep their interest. We cheat our children if we don't unplug them from TVs, DVDs and iPads long enough to do that.  There is so much to see and do that isn't connected to an outlet or run by batteries -- and our children need to be comfortable with that.

As the weather warms, why not pitch a tent and camp out in the back yard?  This is not a slumber party for friends or cousins, this is time for you as a family to reconnect and have fun.  Take turns finding constellations and try to name them.  Point out the brightest stars.  Imagine walking on the moon.  Do a little scheming about your next family vacation.  Tell silly jokes.  Catch fireflies and roast wieners over a fire pit.

Listen to night sounds.  But most of all, listen to your children.

 

There's just something about being under a big sky at night that makes it a safe place to open up.  If your children hint at their hopes and dreams ... and if those dreams don't line up with your dreams for them ... just listen for now.  They may also share some fears and concerns, and not expect an answer, but the need to know you are there for them and care.  Keep it low key - don't overdo the comforting part and have all the answers.  Just listen.  It takes time away from routines and constant busy-ness to share heart-to-heart, and any time that happens, it's a time to treasure.

Other together times may involve day trips to fun museums and/or special events.  Check with your chamber of commerce to find out about events like musical or theater productions nearby.  Butterfly museums, aviaries and birdwatching all can attract children who are "unplugged."  When you focus on something outside your child's normal activities and interests, you give them a bigger view of the world.

Another idea:  make something together - like one of the fancy bird baths pictured below!  Not only will you have a lot of fun, you can enjoy watching the birds flock to it this summer.  Turn an old lamp stand into a cool bird bath by adding a ceiling light fixture or some type of large bowl you might not use anymore.  Sharing time is even better when you have something tangible to show for it.  Be sure to let your child share ideas for the project, too.  It doesn't have to turn out *perfect,* it just has to be a memorable time spent with a precious little person you happen to love!

 What a lovely day!  God is still on His throne and there's a big world out there waiting for you and your children to discover.  Together. 

 

 

Photo credit: Pinterest

Miles apart and smiles from the heart

photo by simon howden at freedigitalphotos.com


This will be a most unusual holiday
for us, and I'm trying my best not to be down-in-the-mouth about it. We knew our two older children and their spouses and babies wouldn't make it -- but the closer the time draws near, the harder it is.

I'm not resenting the time they will have with their other families -- not at all - but we will miss them nonetheless. Perhaps the hardest thing this year is that my hubby will be working both Christmas Day and the day after. When I sigh about that, he grins, "Most people still need to use water on holidays..." and he's right, of course.

As the plant operator, he is responsible to keep enough water treated and available for the many customers on the Hawk Pride Mountain Water system, and he takes his job seriously. I admire him for that, because he's a man of commitment and faithfulness. He wouldn't slack on his duty. It's just that Christmas is a family day, and it won't be the same with him there and me here.

I suppose I could go to work with him and putter around the office. I'd even daydreamed of taking a nice meal down there and spending the afternoon watching an old movie (on the flat screen TV the plant provides for the guys)... but I have other people to consider.

I'm the only family my dear Mom has, and she's coming over for the day. Also, our son Kevin is off work and lives fairly close by, so he will be with us part of that time. I want to make it a special day here with the three of us -- or four of us, if my sister Brenda gets to come for a visit.

A small family gathering, to be sure, but precious members nonetheless. Phillip will be home that evening if all goes well on the water system. This means no major leaks or pump problems at the treatment facility. I don't want to consider that possibility (though it has happened on other holidays!), because I could really get down-in-the-mouth.

At my age, a frown can do major damage to your face.

You know what I mean ... once you do stop frowning, those little wrinkles hang around long enough to cement into little crevices around your mouth. If I'm going to have those crinkles and wrinkles, I want them to come from smiling -- not frowning!

Back when I was a child, I remember hearing someone say, "If you frown too long, your frown will get stuck." Maybe that's why I practiced smiling a lot. I would slip into my parents' room and sit in front of the big round mirror on their dresser. Leaning forward, I'd cock my head and grin, or frown first and then smile real big to see if my frown was stuck.

Oh, how I loved admiring my little self in that mirror as a four year old! I knew how to pose, too, because I had four big sisters to observe 24/7. So there I'd sit, turning my head this way and that, patting my hair and practicing the biggest smile I could muster.

It paid off, too! The day a new store opened at our little shopping center on Broadway, there were games, contests and freebies. To my delight, one of the contests was called the 'Biggest Smile' contest, and yours truly was confident she could win it!

The judge lined us up - probably a dozen children - and told us to give our biggest smile. I'm quite sure he'd never seen so many teeth at once as he did when he stopped in front of me.

I was smiling so big it hurt -- but I won the prize! A giant lollipop was mine to savor for the next few hours.

So, while I am bit sad about a low-key Christmas this year, I'm smiling outside to give myself a temporary "face lift." I have much to be thankful for, and I will focus on that. We'll have a warm fire, a light lunch, and probably pull out a jigsaw puzzle to work. Mom enjoys that and I do, too. When my hubby gets in, we'll have our special meal together.

So I can't complain! We are healthy, happy and have a roof over our heads and the love of family and friends. My siblings will call here Christmas Day -- another advantage of having Mom at my place -- and I'll get to connect with them even though we are many miles apart.

Our two older children will no doubt call home to say hello to those at our table and share with us about their visits with in-laws. If they put our grandsons on the phone (and I'm counting on that), their goos and coos will give this Nana something else to smile about!

When I focus on all these blessings, how can I possibly be down-in-the-mouth? I'm smiling as I finish this post, and I can just feel those little down-in-the-mouth wrinkles easing up and disappearing as I do.

Anybody wanna challenge me to another big-smile contest? Nah, I didn't think so ...