I love podcasts! Maybe because I don’t have any little sidekicks at home during the day with me anymore --I love some company during the day while I’m driving, cleaning, what-evering! I love the way they make my brain stretch and to think of things in a completely different way. Here are some that I have really enjoyed:
* Jody Moore – start with episode 87. Your thoughts have all the power! I also love Episode 3 How to Solve Any Problem and just choose ones that look interesting from there.
* Meg Meeker – just begin with episode #1 What Kids Want Most. The wise, to the point, but compassionate mother & doctor everyone needs to learn from.
* Brooke Castillo – she’s a little harder for me to listen to but she has awesome points. I especially love her thoughts about marriage. They defy everything you usually hear about his needs, your needs, etc
* Awesome with Alison – I listened once and was like who is this crazy girl?! But then I realized she is truly being herself and she and her husband Eric are so genuine and fun! I love her energy and outlook on life and you will be saying freaking all the time…I started with her weight loss episode and was hooked. I love Episode 32 as well and many others
Do you have any favorite podcasts?? I would love to hear ♥
Day 6: I actually love Mondays right now. I say right now because I haven’t always loved them.
They are new beginnings, a hope for a better week with grand ambitions. Monday is always my best day for exercising and eating well, my body is usually screaming for it after the weekend. I make a to-do list for the week and plan dinners and my grocery list. If you’ve noticed I hardly ever, ever post on Mondays even though blog experts report that is the highest traffic day. It’s my day to get things back in order.
The garbage comes on Monday and I always see how much I can get out there before it comes. There is something deeply satisfying watching my junk being hauled away, out of sight and to have empty garbage cans, even just for a few minutes.
I also love Mondays because I am home for most of the day. The older I get, the more I love to be at home. Errands and grocery shopping used to be a fun excuse to get out of the house with little ones to break up long days. Now, as our children are older I am in the car a lot, driving between games, practices, church activities, and lessons. I find myself wanting to be at home more and in stores less, even though it always seems I need a quick trip to the store somewhere along the way after a weekend of hungry kids. I’ve tried to plan ahead and do the only once to the grocery store a week, but haven’t been able to pull it off yet.
I also love Mondays because it is family night. A night where we do something fun together and try to involve a lesson on basic principles such as honesty, kindness, helping others, keeping the commandments, etc. and we always have treats. Some nights it’s a disaster and we wonder why we try and just go to bed. Other nights, they go really well and we grow closer as a family and we keep going. I notice that usually when we try to plan ahead and put some effort into the evening, it goes much better. I emphasize usually.
I love, loved Tad R. Callister’s talk this past weekend at our church conference: “We might all ask ourselves: do our children receive our best spiritual, intellectual and creative efforts, or do they receive our leftover time and talents?” A good thought for a Monday when I’m most ambitious.
What about you? Do you love Mondays or dread them?
a favorite quote, I thought it was perfect for today. -Melissa
She was feeling the need to ask forgiveness for her talent, her hobby, her thing.
A pit came to my stomach because I’ve felt that before. That feeling when some people come over (and maybe I took the time to clean up?) and start looking around and making comments about “how do you have TIME for this?” or “I guess I would rather buy new than take time to paint old things” or my favorite: “I’m never letting you come over to my house -- you would die.”
And all of a sudden I feel guilt and the need to apologize for something I love to do and if they could only know how flawed I really feel in so many other aspects of life.
Oh, but I do it too. I didn’t do a huge back to school dinner with a theme and gifts and new outfits and so I make fun the ridiculousness of putting so much effort into it--who has time for that?
A friend just finished another marathon and I’m struggling to get back up to 2 miles-- why is she so into her body?
Or the fun mom that is always out on an adventure with her kids -- is her energy for real? She’s got to be taking something.
We tell our daughters not to play dumb, be yourself and shine on, be kind, and don’t worry about what others think. We still need to give each other that talk.
So I’m giving it today: Do your thing. Don’t apologize for it. Bless others with your talents. Own it.
And let others do their thing - not only do it - but excel at it. I want to be in the camp that applauds, lifts, encourages, restores, give the benefit of the doubt. To your face, behind your back, and behind a computer screen. And when the green envy, jealousy, and guilt start rearing -- simply say:
that’s her thing.
I love to see people love what they are doing.
10. It is so family friendly and deal friendly – family passes and discounts everywhere. The pool, bumper boats, discount theaters, miniature golf, baseball and basketball games. There are always good deals to be found!
320 Sycamore is 4 years old! How can that be?? When I began, I said it was about “bringing out the charm and potential in our homes and families with a bit of nonsense and good deals scattered here and there.” I’ve tried to hold true to that, but honestly on some days, not posting is the best thing I can do for my family.
As we voted yesterday, I couldn’t help but think, will this even matter? This one vote? But today, I am grateful for a bigger vote I have: the influence in my home.
No matter who leads in national and local governments, the largest movement for good I can or ever will have is right here in my home. I can inspire what goes on here. The mood in our home, how I respond to situations, how we take care of our money, how we deal with struggles and setbacks, what we teach our children about God, helping others, kindness, and love. Even monotonous things that make life a little easier for the ones I love like good food and clean socks. Some days it doesn’t seem like much. In fact, most days I wonder if I am doing any good and that I may be taking us backward. I have to believe though, that when my kids look back at their childhood, this or that election will be tiny compared to the feeling that we had in our home.
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