Maybe We Should Stop Entertaining Our Kids So Much

Maybe We Should Stop Entertaining Our Kids So Much — We are THAT Family:  'via Blog this'

There is merit in this blog post. It is hard to know when enough entertainment is too much entertainment. It's a thin line. Yes, kids need time for imaginative play and encouragement to do it. And yes, I know my daughter needs to get out of the house and do something with the kids as much as the kids need it. 

To be fair, I get cranky after being in the car for so many hours. I do read, listen to music, and just enjoy the countryside. My husband and I love traveling in the car together because we have uninterrupted time to talk and just be together. 

I am aware of the entitlement issue with kids today. A prudent use of entertainment though is enriching and expanding for kids, not exactly entitlement. 

So as my mother would say, moderation in all things.  

P.S. From my husband: "Somewhere I read that the opposite of bored is not fun, rather is engaged.  And it varies how much each person will be engaged by something without wanting something else to go to."

Revolt against the testing tyrants - Columbia Daily Tribune | Columbia Missouri: Columnists

Revolt against the testing tyrants - Columbia Daily Tribune | Columbia Missouri: Columnists:  'via Blog this'

As a former teacher and as a parent and grandmother, I couldn't agree more with this writer. My younger daughter is a kindergarten teacher, and she talks about this often, as a parent and as a teacher. It is just too much, this standardized testing. Read the article and you'll discover more tests and time taken from teaching---lots of time---than you've ever realized. Hope the testing gurus will find this and read it and come to their senses.

The Origins of St. Patrick's Day

The Origins of St. Patrick's Day:

'via Blog this' 

Yes, St. Patrick's Day is Monday, March 17. And there is more to it than just drinking green beer. I found this article that has many resources included in it so decided I'd just share it. Click above.

The Tip of the Iceberg

Oh my! We have been gathering a few things for our church's annual garage sale this Saturday. It makes us realize that we have barely touched the tip of the iceberg! In preparation for selling this house eventually (who knows when at this time) and downsizing for retirement (or pre-retirement job), we have a ton of stuff. And it needs to be dealt with little by little, or maybe big by big.

We are not hoarders, however we have kept enough stuff to fill the wall shelves in our unfinished basement room, and then some. I have boxes and files from my teaching days that need to be given away or pitched. There are Christmas decorations used for many years, but not anymore. Old and mostly not-working electronics. Enough said. You get the gist.

Occasionally my husband reminds me I used to say, only a little in jest, that I never wanted to own more than what a VW Bus and U-Haul trailer attached to it could hold. That was my young, idealistic self talking. Whew, I've gone way over that---as would be expected. And yet this excess stuff does tell me about myself. In the future, I want to change that consumerism that I have bought into for too long. 

I can say, and I remind my husband of this, that I buy a lot less stuff and less expensive stuff than many people I know. That doesn't seem to amuse him. If I'm extravagant, it's been in my generosity to others (especially our daughters), and now to our grandchildren. 

Our daughters will be happy to read this, that we are working on cleaning out the clutter, so they won't have to some day. There are some things we want to ask them if they want, family "treasures".  Just know that we are thinking about all of this, working on it bit by bit, and realizing it must be done. Just the little we are taking to the church garage sale makes me feel lighter, that we've made a dent. 

Thoughts on a Tuesday

It was 80+ degrees today in Columbia, MO!! Now a cold front is moving in and we are getting lightening, thunder, rain, and eventually snow! Yesterday it was 70 degrees, and a week earlier on Monday it was a snow day due to frigid temps and icy-snowy conditions. Wow is all I can say.

Last week I was perusing online tea sellers looking for some good Ceylon loose tea. Found several, though some too expensive. Finally ordered one box of Ceylon tea that is imported from Sri Lanka to England to the U.S. I made it for the first time yesterday and it was lovely. 

My mind flashed back to Iserlohn, Germany, a late summer afternoon in 2009, sitting in front of our new friend's home in the shade of a tree, with teapot and mugs on the table in front of us, sipping Ceylon tea her parent's had brought back from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), just savoring the tea and the time together. It was the best tea I'd ever had. Why? Maybe because it had been an amazing visit in the town of my husband's grandmother's birthplace and early years. We had toured and worshiped in the church where she was

baptized and confirmed. Driving to the street where her home had been before the war, and seeing photos in the local historical museum of her bombed out home was poignant. She had already immigrated to the U.S. before WW II.  Seeing how the local Lutheran church was getting out and taking ministry to the people was exciting too. All in all it was a fabulous visit. 

Back to my new Ceylon tea. Amazing what a cup of tea can do! I have an idea that this tea will always remind me of a special time in Iserlohn, Germany.

How to Pray for the Most Oppressed People Group in the World

A Holy Experience – How to Pray for the Most Oppressed People Group in the World:

'via Blog this'

It is startling to be reminded, or to learn, that girls are "the most oppressed people group in the world." This blog post is by Kristen Welch who is one of my favorite Christian bloggers. I have pre-ordered her book, "Rhinestone Jesus." She inspires me, with her down-to-earth, real posts, from a real life. This post by Kristen is hosted on the blog "A Holy Experience" by Ann Voskamp. 

Both of the aforementioned women have had a great impact on me and my Christian faith journey. I have written about both of them previously, and I have their blog links under "My Blog List" on this page to the right. I can't remember when I found them, and the other significant bloggers in "My Blog List." All I know is how I have been so positively affected. And I am grateful to God for such women, stirring up the world, one blog at a time.

Why I love Ash Wednesday and Lent Part 1: Sin

Why I love Ash Wednesday and Lent Part 1: Sin:

'via Blog this'   by Nadia Bolz-Weber, Pastor at House for All Sinner and Saints, Denver, CO. Worth the read. She is a new "star" in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, and for good reasons. Bolz-Weber has authored two books, the most recent, "Pastorix" is on the NY Times Best Seller List. We have the book, I just haven't had time to read it yet because I've been reading books on St. Paul while I'm leading a Bible Study on him. My friends and family who have read "Pastorix" liked it very much.

The Truth About Church No One is Talking About — We are THAT Family

The Truth About Church No One is Talking About — We are THAT Family:

'via Blog this'

Another full-of wisdom post by Kristen Welch. I so admire her for BEING the church, and BEING the hands of Christ. This post talks about one project she was part of. Her BIG project is a home for pregnant girls in Kenya, Mercy House. You can read more about that at her blog-site. Truly, I admire her and she has pushed me to BE church outside my comfort zone.

Dodged the Storm

I was going to entitle this post "Dodged the Bullet" but I am so against guns and bullets that no way was I going to do that. So, we dodged the storm. It was predicted that Saturday night and Sunday were going to bring us 6-10" of sleet, snow and ice. Well, the thin layer of ice came Saturday night, then the sleet on top of that actually added traction for feet and tires (my husband says). We got a few snow flakes on Sunday late afternoon, but not many. Now the COLD part of the forecast was true. It was -1 degree this morning, and school was called off because of that (my guess) and janitors and grounds keepers were just getting to work this morning to clear sidewalks, or de-ice them, and make all walking areas safe. 

These days, since I take care of grandson Benjamin, I don't look forward to "snow days" off from school like I used to. This year we've had far too many with all this crazy weather. Now I hope for a snow day only so daughter-teacher Anja can stay home with Ben. Then I miss Ben, especially if it's been several days in a row. Luckily today I get to have him this afternoon while his parents run some errands. He's napping now, but he is still here!

Yesterday at church I sat by Benjamin and parents, and when the children's sermon came and Pop was the one doing it, Ben wanted to go right up front. He declined help from his Dad (which I felt a little bad about) and came to me, Nana, to go with him. He was just darling as he walked up (surprise Pop!) and sat on the communion rail kneelers right by Pop. He did a pretty good job, just getting up to walk to the other side of the circle a couple times. He always ended up by Pop. I had to help him find his way back to Mama and Daddy. It was marvelous to see his participation in the worship service for the first time. OK, he started getting a little loud during the sermon so headed to the church nursery. If this was his behavior for the first time sitting in church (since he was little little) he is off to a grand start!

"The One Thing Christians Should Stop Saying" from The Accidental Missionary

The One Thing Christians Should Stop Saying | The Accidental Missionary:

'via Blog this'

Bravo! Very well said. Please read.

Strange Week and Weather

It has been a strange week. Our sweet 21-month-old grandson had a terrible case of the stomach flu with fever. Lasting about 48 hours, it was very worrisome. So I only had him here for two-and-a-half days. 

Now we are waiting for our third really big snow storm of the winter. We are in a winter storm warning from late tonight until Monday morning. So strange. The first Sundays in January and February 2014 we had to cancel church worship services due to ice and snow. It is looking very probable that we will have to do the same tomorrow, the first Sunday in March. This is unprecedented for our church.

As I look out the living room window, my two bird feeders hanging from our top deck are very busy. I filled them up yesterday, and also the front yard feeders anticipating the snow and bitter cold we are expecting. Maybe the birds are eating up knowing what is coming. And our wind chimes on the lower deck are making constant 'music' as the north wind blows in.