Making this a habit. . .

Life is cumulative . . .that is both encouraging and convicting all at the same time. In one sense our lives are not defined by one choice or moment, but on the other hand we need to be thinking about how we spend those daily moments because they are what make up our life.

After reading through our last chapter and taking a few personality tests, I have come to realize I am more of an introvert than I would have ever thought. (For those of you who know me that will come as a surprise as it did me). I am happy in the sense that by nature I self-evaluate on a regular basis, but I will admit I am not as intentional as I would like to be. After discussing this topic at homemakers on Monday I realized I fall into the category of wanting the system to work (ie journaling, recording on a calendar etc.) to record my goals of daily life, that I often get caught up in trying to find the perfect system instead of focusing on the purpose of that system. Do any of you have that problem? I think that has to do with my perfectionism. I want to have it just right before I jump in with both feet. I think I am realizing with this, I do not want to be that way. I feel that taking the time on a regular basis to review my choices and priorities will help me be more intentional. I have decided to take Barb’s advice and just choose one day a week, Sunday for me, and ask myself the questions she posted in the previous post(s). She suggested just getting into the habit of asking ourselves those questions so we can evaluate how our week went, not to beat ourselves up about our choices, but to help us evaluate if we are moving closer to our goals and living out our priorities. After awhile of just taking the time to ask the questions, it will hopefully become a habit and can transfer into a system that works.

I think this is one of those times where the rubber meets the road for me. I believe this is a great idea to help me be more intentional, but is not something that comes easily. I will have to make the choice to not do something else on Sundays in order to focus on my weekly review.

I hope some of you will join me in Barb’s challenge. In order to be intentional women we have to self evaluate. We need to write down where we are going, what our priorities are and then evaluate them on a short-term basis so that we can make adjustments so we can ultimately achieve our goals. I am so thankful for the reminder to not just let life happen to me but to be proactive and involved.

Reflecting on my 2009 theme

I am just like Barb when it comes to the new year. I am not sure what it is about January, but I always feel like I have been given a fresh start and I love that feeling.

Barb introduced us a few years ago to the idea of themes, and I must admit while I loved the idea, I wasn’t sure how or what it would look like for me and my daily life. Just like Barb stated, through the years I have chosen themes that have made a huge impact, and I can really see the Lord using that theme to help me grow while other years the year just seems to go by-and it hasn’t impacted me as much as I would have liked. If I am honest I think those are the years I didn’t take enough time to choose a word that relates to my stage of life as well as me not putting enough effort into applying and searching out ways to help me grow in that given area.

I have not officially chosen my theme for 2010, but I definitely have a few in mind. We will be sharing those at a later date so I will take a few moments to reflect back on 2009. My theme was to be intentional. I loved this theme, but also feel like one year was not enough. Being intentional is a daily decision, and I will need to continue on for the rest of my life.

Barb had us do an activity one time about writing out what we would like to have written on our headstone if we were to die. While I will probably never totally have it figured out, I would love for it to say somewhere on it that I was an intentional woman, that I did not do what everyone else did, I lived out a life where when others looked at me they would see something different. They would see me making choices, daily choices that made me more like Jesus. I have such a long way to go, and I know I can only walk that journey with the Lord by my side cheering me on. That is what I think Barb wants for us with these yearly themes. It helps us focus on areas where we can learn to be more godly women, wives, and mothers. I think having something to focus on is a great way to help in your walk with the Lord. While I will look back on 2009 as the year when I really focused on being intentional, I will know it was the year I made a commitment to be intentional for the rest of my life. I am so thankful I have a relationship with the Lord who will help me on a daily basis! Happy 2010!

Mindless Eating

I read an interesting article last week. The article was entitled, Obesity of our Spending and our Bodies. It gave a different twist to holiday spending and eating.

Kathleen Vohs, a marketing professor found that "exerting self-control in more than one area at a time is difficult."

I never thought about that before.

"Your ability to control your behaviors is like a precious resource, there is not going to be enough to go around, " Vohs said.

She maintains that you need to give yourself time in between a Christmas buffet and a shopping trip in order to "give your self-control time to rejuvenate by spreading out activities that will tax your willpower." Interesting.

I mentioned Dr Brian Wasnick yesterday. He's the author of Mindless Eating.

In it, he says “People’s tastes are not formed by accident.... The key to the quickest way to eliminate mindless overeating is to start at home. We need to set up our daily environment and routine so we can eat the right amounts of food we enjoy."

That is alot to think about on top of the holiday rush, but we are all going to be decorating and baking this season, let's keep in mind what we are communicating to our families as we set our food before them.

Check out this fun website http://www.mindlesseating.org/ It's encouraged me in little ways to be intentional as my family's 'Nutritional Gatekeeper'...if not during the holidays...then soon afterwards:).

Intentional Eating

I was going to start this week sharing what we are going to be talking about at Homemakers tonight, but I think it requires more thinking than what we need to do right now. The busy holiday season is upon us.

Last week we talked about honoring our husbands amidst our busyness, how about thinking about ourselves this week. Specifically, our eating habits.

How and what we eat will really affect how we feel this holiday so let's share what we do to honor ourselves in this area.

I think we would agree that we are what Dr. Brian Wasnick calls the 'Nutritional Gatekeeper' for our family. We decide what's for dinner for the most part and we stock the food we keep in the house. That means this is an area we really can be intentional in and the holidays are no exception.

Wasnick maintains that we eat more than we think we do. He has conducted experiments to back up his theory. He found that people lost almost 2 pounds per month over 3 months simply by eating off salad plates as opposed to regular-sized dinner plates. What an easy exercise we can do over the next 6 weeks. Just use a smaller plate or bowl as you fill up with holiday goodies.

He also says that the better a food sounds by name, the more likely a person is to eat it. Bavarian Black Forest Cake is more appealing to us than chocolate cake. In an experiment with 1st and 2nd graders, students took 60 % more peas at lunch when they were called power peas.
Maybe we should spend some time re-naming our healthy recipes to appeal to our family's desires!

When it comes to shopping, many 'Nutritional Gatekeepers', buy snacks in bulk. Dr Wasnick says we tend to eat HALF of whatever the snack is in a WEEK, regardless of how much we buy. Some intentional thought should accompany us to the grocery store in the next 6 weeks.

This is as good as any week to be intentional in what we eat and that should carry over to how we feel. We all agree we need to be in top form in all respects as we enter into this holiday rush, so start today. Go ahead and make yourself a 'Personal, Beauty-Enhancing-Peanut Butter Sandwich'...and eat it on a salad plate.

Why Read?

Wow, if Stacy didn't give you enough reasons yesterday to start reading, here is one more!

I heard a speaker say once that the reason he read books was that it gave him HOPE. I didn't really understand the full depth of that until I took a serious look at what I was reading.

That has been a guideline for me as I choose books. Do they give me HOPE? Or are they just taking up my time?

Fiction books can give me hope as long as they have a storyline that is uplifting. Books that are based on values that I am trying to follow. I am reading one this summer that is thought-provoking yet hopeful. Glittering Images, by Susan Howatch is about a young clergyman who puts forth a wonderful image in his ministry, but is haunted by who he really is. I am not finished with it yet, but so far, it is a book that bring me hope as I wrestle with the main character and his quest for authenticity.

Biographies are wonderful books that can implant hope to the reader. But not all biographies do that! I have begun reading biographies only to stop reading them as they offer no hope. They are just talking about a person's life with no direction or hope woven within the lines. It was all about the person, but little more.

Corrie Ten Boom's The Hiding Place and Elizabeth Elliot's Through Gates of Splendor are two exceptional picks for summer reading.

the organic God by Margaret Feinberg is just plain HOPEFUL!

Become a woman of HOPE by reading books that build that HOPE within you.

Summer reading

Are you reading any good books this summer? My usual reading selection has pretty much been replaced by books on sleeping, eating, schedules, pregnancy, etc, etc. Not to mention my daily readings of Curious George and the Hungry Catepillar when my little guy is snuggled in my lap and we're rocking together.

But I have managed to squeeze in some fun, relaxing summer reading as well. I hope you have too!

In case you think reading 'isn't your thing,' here are some benefits to developing consistent reading habits (taken from inewsindia.com):

Reading is an active mental process: Unlike sitting in front of the idiot box (TV), reading makes you use your brain. While reading you would be forced to reason out many things which are unfamiliar to you. In this process you would use the grey cells of your brain to think and become smarter.

Reading improves your vocabulary: Remember in elementary school when you learned how to infer the meaning of one word by reading the context of the other words in the sentence? You get the same benefit from book reading. While reading books, especially challenging ones, you will find yourself exposed to many new words you wouldn’t be otherwise.

Gives you a glimpse into other cultures and places of the world: How would you know about the life of people in Mexico if you don’t read about it? Reading gives you an insight into the diversity of ethnicity of people, their customs, their lifestyles etc. You become more aware about the different places and the code of conduct in those places.

Improves concentration and focus: It requires you to focus on what you are reading for long periods. Unlike magazines, Internet posts or e-Mails that might contain small chunks of information, books tell the whole story. Since you must concentrate in order to read, like a muscle, you will get better at concentration.

Builds self-esteem: The more you read, the more knowledgeable you become. With more knowledge comes more confidence. More confidence builds self-esteem. So it’s a chain reaction. Since you are so well read, people look to you for answers. Your feelings about yourself can only get better.

Improves memory: Many studies show if you don’t use your memory, you lose it. Crossword puzzles are an example of a word game that staves off Alzheimer’s. Reading, although not a game, helps you stretch your memory muscles in a similar way. Reading requires remembering details, facts and figures and in literature, plot lines, themes and characters.

Improves your discipline: Making time to read is something we all know we should do, but who schedules book reading time every day? Very few… That’s why adding book reading to your daily schedule and sticking to it, improves discipline.

Improves creativity: Reading about diversity of life and exposing yourself to new ideas and more information helps to develop the creative side of the brain as it imbibes innovation into your thinking process.

You always have something to talk about: Have you ever found yourself in an embarrassing situation where you didn’t have anything to talk about? Did you hate yourself for making a fool of yourself? Do you want a remedy for this? It’s simple. Start reading. Reading widens your horizon of information. You’ll always have something to talk about. You can discuss various plots in the novels you read, you can discuss the stuff you are learning in the business books you are reading as well. The possibilities of sharing become endless.

Reduces boredom: One of the rules I have is if I am feeling bored, I will pick up a book and start reading. What I’ve found by sticking to this is that I become interested in the book’s subject and stop being bored. I mean, if you’re bored anyway, you might as well be reading a good book, right?

I hope a few of those points encourage you to continue reading or challenge you to start today. Grab a book, head for the great outdoors (or cool AC), and enjoy the printed word.

Have you read a good book this summer? If so, please share!

Will the recession make you fat?

"Will the recession make you fat?" was the title of a segment on the Today Show this morning. You can read the online article here.

There were some great shopping tips and good reminders on how to save money when going grocery shopping.

Many consumers think it's too expensive to eat healthy (fresh fruits and veggies are expensive). Buy fresh fruit and vegetables when they are on sale or buy frozen. They suggest scaling back on eating out and you'll save money there. Limit excessive snack-buying (pre-packaged snacks can be spendy). Buy larger containers of yogurt, cereal, and snacks and divide into smaller portions.

Stop buying beverages such as fancy coffee, fruit drinks, fruit juices, soda, and bottled water. Invest in a home filtering system and guzzle clean, good (and virtually free!) water. They made the recommendation to buy a few colorful water bottles and keep those filled with cold, refreshing water. I got a Camelbak water bottle for Christmas this year and it sits on my counter (or in my bedroom or living room) all day and I keep filling it with my filtered water. This helps me to rarely drink pop or other sugary beverages. Sames goes for my brother, sister-in-law and nephew. They bought a few Camelbak water bottles and refill them constantly. We are all learning how these healthier and cheaper habits can benefit our budget and our waistline!

You can read all the food tips and suggestions online (it's worth your time!).

Another angle of the segment was that when people are stressed they eat more - and they tend to eat more comfort foods. People who are feeling discouraged or depressed, will also exercise less and prefer to spend time as a 'couch potato.' In hard economic times, people stop their personal trainers, quit their gym memberships, and get little exercise. They suggest choosing exercises that are free such as working out at home using tv exercise shows or walking. Exercise is exactly what we all need to help with depression and give us more joyful attitudes in these hard times.

The Today Show also noted that people turn to alcohol to calm them down when they are anxious and nervous about the economy. Alcohol is a depressant so it can make things worse if someone is already struggling through a tough situation.

This week Barb and I will share some healthy and budget-friendly recipes. If you have ones to share please comment or e-mail us - we'd love to post your recipes and we'd love to try them out ourselves!

Making your marriage a priority

In the survey we offered last fall the number one topic chosen was Making Your Marriage a Priority.

As a girl who fills her day with to-dos, activities, outings and project after project, this is an area of great struggle for me. We’ll address this topic in the coming days, but be assured: we are writing to ourselves as much as we are writing to you. Please feel free to share your questions about this topic or ideas that you have found are invaluable in helping you make your marriage a priority.

Debra Evans in the book Blessing Your Husband, says, “Marriage is the most important human relationship a man and a woman voluntarily commit to in live. It was designed to survive raising kids to adulthood and all of the stresses and strains involved in family life.”

She also quotes Gary Smalley about the Art of Flexibility: Gary states that many women have their days planned from morning to evening and when something has to be changed, it ruins their day. “Your schedule is important, however you need to maintain a balance by being able to set aside your priorities from time to time to pay special attention to your husband and his needs.”

Questions to ponder this week as we discuss making your marriage a priority:
What kind of reaction does my husband get when he walks in the door at night? Or when I greet him at the door as we both return home from work?
Am I already writing my to-do list in my head for the evening or weekend? Where does my husband fit on that list or schedule?
How many opportunities for blessing and celebration have I missed with my husband because of my determined choice to stick to a schedule or remain preoccupied with my daily work?
When was the last time we sat down and had a one on one conversation together? Or when have we had a night or weekend alone together in the past year?
What would it look like to make my husband and my marriage a priority?

Action expresses priorities

Priority is defined as:
1. something given special attention

2. highest or higher in importance, rank, privilege, etc.: a priority task.

This week my priorities have been my family. Samuel's Gotcha Day was a big priority this week as was my husband. He received a fabulous job offer on Monday and all week we have been talking and praying and discussing what to do (it involves a possible move or him commuting out of state).

I believe I have given special attention to both my boys this week. Other things have fallen by the wayside while I poured my time, energy, planning, etc. into the two of them.

That is definitely not always the case. Sometimes we can say this is my priority or that is my priority. But when it comes down to it, how have we spent our time? How have our actions reflected our priorities?

Gandhi says: "Action expresses priorities."

This weekend reflect on how you would answer the question: What are your priorities? Then take notice of how you spend your time.

I believe this will give us all something to ponder.

Be careful...

Be careful little eyes what you see.

Be careful little ears what you hear.

I don't know all the lyrics to that children's song but I was thinking about it yesterday.

Barb touched on being aware of what we put in front of our eyes.

I think being aware of what we listen to is wise as well. What we listen to, we ultimately reigns in our minds and we ponder in our hearts.

As I go about my day I can choose to have the television on or off at home. If it's on, I can choose to listen to talk shows, news, sitcoms or soap operas. Or I can choose to have on the radio or iPod and listen to music or talk shows.

When I am in the car I can choose to have silence, listen to talk radio or other radio programs, worship music, sermons or any other music station out there.

These are such simple choices. They are not life altering. Not one of them. But over time they can be so impactful on my mind and my thought patterns.

These choices can set the tone for my day and my attitude.

For Home Improvement lets strive be intentional about what we listen to. Enjoy a television show you like or a radio station you are a fan of. But be aware of what you are listening to and make it something you choose rather than something that chooses you.

Should You Be Reading This?

"Should I be reading this?"
Lately I have been asking myself that question. Not that I'm reading BAD stuff, but rather that I am side-tracked by all the options I have to feed my mind.

I love blogs, emails, facebook, the whole internet(!), books, ipods, magazines...so much information, so little time.

This statistic blew my mind: "In 2003 alone, enough new information was generated to fill a stack of books 30 feet tall for EACH of the more than six billion people on earth." (Peter Lyman, "How much information,2003")

How do I decide what to read and what to walk away from?

I have had to return to the basics as all this technology has crept into my life. When my kids were really little, I packed a basket of books and my Bible and moved from room to room for my quiet time. The season of the year often dictated where I would perch.
Later I planted myself in a cozy corner in my walk-in closet to read, pray and THINK.
When my daughter left for college, I moved a comfortable chair into her bedroom and sat up 'shop' there.

My intent was always to find a personal sanctuary of sorts.

I am now back in my cozy closet. It's my place of solitude off away from all the other demands of my day. It is where I feed my mind and allow myself to THINK without distraction.

Did you know that Bill Gates has a modest cottage in a secret location where he goes for "Think Weeks"?

This has been one of my most powerful 'tools' in finding out who I am as a woman...to have a place for rejuvenation and a place that nourishes my soul.

The key was to find a place that took me away from all the worldly connections. A place where the computer, cell phones, ipods and the like are not allowed. It is a place that allows me to think and get in touch with who I really am.

It's been a process for me. Finding a place to sit my bum was not the goal...it was the beginning of meeting ME!

Heart, soul and mind

I read recently that the best prayer you can pray for your children is that they would "Love the Lord their God with all their heart, all their soul and all their mind."

That is a very powerful prayer to pray! Not only are we praying Scripture, but we are praying for hearts, souls and minds.

I believe that in order to pray this for my son (and my spouse while I'm at it!), I need to be living it out myself. What does it look like to love God with all my heart, soul AND mind?

As we know, our minds are a battlefield. Every day we fight battles with what we think about, how we think and what thoughts we allow to enter and take up residence in our minds.

The Greek word Jesus used for “mind” is dianoia, which means: Deep thought, exercising the mind, to think through.

Everything we allow in our minds we need to think through, analyze, consider, weigh the pros and cons. So much attention is given to our hearts and souls in our relationship with the Lord, it is easy to let our minds slip.

The reason? Because it is a daily battle. What worked yesterday may not work today. And may not work tomorrow. As we train our hearts to be healthy, we can train our minds to think on what is good, true, pure, noble and righteous.

But it does take training. It takes living intentionally and being slective with what we allow to enter our minds. This will enable us to love God with our hearts, soul and mind!

What Did You Learn?

What did you learn yesterday? About anything.

Years ago, at the end of every day I would write down one thing I had learned that day. I may return to that discipline again this year.

There were days I was eager to write down something profound I had heard or read. There were days I was void of anything new. It rapidly made me aware of how little I focused on my mind. Before that exercise, I simply went from day to day not really thinking about my mind's potential.

How can we even begin to call ourselves 'wise' if we aren't aware of our learning patterns?

As we talk about becoming women of God, most of us recognize our need grow in that area.

When we focus on our physical bodies, we are always aware of ways we can improve there.

But do we take our minds for granted?

As we continue to think of ways to take care of ourselves we can't neglect our minds.

What have you learned today?

Make a list!

One of my favorite homemaking books that I refer to on this site from time to time is Queen of the Castle. Author Lynn Bowen Walker refers to the book The Sidetracked Sisters' Happiness File in which they suggest starting a list of all the things you love to do, them making sure to incorporate them into your life.

As women it is vital to nurture ourselves by participating in the activities that bring refreshment, joy and relaxation to our hearts. These things not only refresh us physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.

A list might include things such as: taking a bubble bath, going shopping, getting a facial, pedicure or massage, going out for coffee with a friend, reading a book, watching movies in front of the fire (with freshly popped popcorn!), taking a nap, working on a craft or hobby, etc. If this lists sounds similar to what Barb suggested last week, it's because we're really trying to communicate that these things are essential - not just optional - for us to thrive as women.

I love to read and last week I read an entire book in two days. Now it wasn't a long book, but it felt SO good to just lay in bed here and there, or sit on the couch while my husband was watching television and let myself read. Reading allows me to take a mental break from life, and escape into the wonderful world of whatever story I am reading.

When you have a few minutes this week, grab a pen and make your list. Put it in your Bible or on your fridge or somewhere you will see it regularly. Let it be a reminder to give yourself a mental or emotional break - you deserve it!

Home Improvement...Be a Woman!

HURRAH! This week's home improvement is all about ME! Enjoy it ladies, because the other 51 weeks it will be about serving others!

A woman serves her husband

A woman serves her children

A woman serves her neighbors, friends, co-workers

A woman serves her parents, siblings and relatives

A woman serves...

So a woman has to be in top condition in order to maintain her own strength and availability to serve others.

Use this weekend to take a temperature check of what YOU need to do to improve physically so you can serve others.

Take a bath

Get a free makeover at a cosmetic counter at your favorite department store

Make a doctor's appointment on Monday if you haven't been keeping up with your yearly physicals

Move your body this weekend. Make plans to do that often in 2009

Look through magazines for a new haircut for the New Year!

Paint your fingernails

Use a facial mask...for dry or oily skin, whatever one fits you

Paint your toenails

Buy a new color lipstick

Go through your closet and weed out old clothes, alter clothes that don't fit, buy new clothes if you have a need for some!

Change the purse you are using, buy a fun new one if your current one doesn't keep you organized

Eat healthy...just for this weekend and see if it doesn't improve your disposition by Monday:)

Enjoy yourself!

Where do you turn?

I typed in 'Women's Health' on Amazon today and discovered there are almost 60,000 books on this topic.

60,000!

In addition to books there is Dr. Phil, Oprah, The View and so many other shows that cover the topic of our health.

There is also Prevention, Women's Health Magazine, Fitness and a slew of other resources to read on a monthly basis.

What resource do you turn to for advice, encouragement or information on your health and lifestyle?

Ever considered the Bible as a resource for healthy living?

A wise woman once suggested that you should have a pink highlighter with you when you read your Bible. Every time you come across a verse that applies to you as a woman, highlight it in pink.

2 Timothy 3:16 says: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

As women we are trying to be taught, we need rebuke about our lifestyles, we are seeking correction and training.

Make the Bible your #1 resource for your health and lifestyle choices.

Now where is that pink highlighter?

Woman to Woman

When I was 20-something, I was teaching along side quite a few other young teachers. We developed a close bond as we were all were just beginning to 'build our homes'.

Jeanette, the office administrator was like a mother to all of us and was forever giving us tips. She usually had some advice about recipes or cleaning, but one time she said, "Don't forget to put cream on your necks every night, girls."

Since then, I have put cream on my neck! Did it help? I don't know, let's just say I'd hate to see what my neck would be like if I hadn't!

I love advice like that. Often times when I read about how to take care of myself as a woman, it is overwhelming because it makes it seem like a full-time job!

Helpful hints from women who are down the road abit are tried and true and...usually priceless.

Want to hear some more?

I began taking care of the sensitive skin around my eyes after an older neighbor said it was the best thing she did to take care of her face.

I became aware of colors in my clothing when an older friend spent some time with me to show me the impact of different colors against my skin.

When my first child was born, an older mom with 3 kids asked me what I was 'feeding my body' (not what was I eating) and it began a life-long habit of feeding my body healthy foods because she said I would be 'feeding my baby the same stuff I was feeding my body'

A very organized mom told me she got up early, exercised and got fully dressed to start each day, right down to her shoes. This enabled her to 'handle all the interruptions' and helped her be ready for whatever happened during the day. When I follow this advice even now many years later I am a happier woman.

We women love to talk, let's make our words inspiring to one another so we can be the best women we can be in the shortest amount of time and with the least amount of expense!

What comment could you share that might impact another woman? Here's your chance!

What worked then...

doesn't work now....!

That's something that I've learned over the last couple years

When I worked full-time in the corporate world I took a class during lunch where we stretched, lifted light weights and did exercises with a big ball. I was toned!

When I worked from home and lived just a couple blocks from a Snap Fitness my husband and I would work out on a regular basis. Or I would work out during the day. We had no kids and our schedule was our own.

Now I am at home full-time as a mom. I work part-time from home. I don't belong to a club. My time is not my own.

What worked for me in the past will not work for me now. It's not an option for me now to go to the club or take exercise classes whenever I want.

So what's a mom to do?

That's what I'm here trying to figure out. What does my day look like now? Where do I fit in exercise and healthy cooking? It's freezing here in Minnesota so I can't even take my little guy out for a walk.

I look forward to warmer weather and getting out doors but that is months away (unfortunately!).

I'm not sure what healthy living looks like for me in this new season of life. But I'm committed to figuring it out...so I can be the best mom possible.

I Am Woman!

Last Wednesday I took a bath! A nice hot bubble bath.
I remember things like that because they happen so rarely.

I suppose I should preface that by saying that I shower daily, but I don't treat myself to a long, steamy bubble bath often.

I loved just sitting among the bubbles pretending I was a young girl without a care in the world. It was good to escape reality for abit.

What do you do to take care of YOURSELF? The first 2 weeks of this New Year, we have talked about our spiritual health and our role as a woman of God. For the next 2 weeks, we would like to focus on taking care of ourselves. As a woman, no matter where we are in life we all serve others. That is just how we are made. But we can't keep serving others without making sure we are strong and healthy ourselves.

My mom was a great role model for staying active. She loved to walk and swim. I have benefited from her example and if I am asked by a younger woman what I have learned over the years about my body that I value, moving my body would be at the top of my list. My body is the vehicle that I use to serve others so I need to keep it in moving condition. That doesn't mean long, sweaty workouts, it just means walking the stairs instead of taking the escalator, it means parking at the back of a parking lot and walking into a store.

It would be great to get feedback from all of you reading this blog about what you do to take care of yourself as a woman. What advice did you hear when you were younger that you have found to be valuable? What advice would you like to hear?

We are all striving to be HOMEMAKERS with Hope...how do we stay healthy as we are trying to be all things to all people? Let's share and learn together...

Pass It On

If you are a letter writer, make sure you pass on your passion to your kids.

If you are not a letter writer, perhaps you should consider becoming one so you can pass this passion on to your kids!

The key to teaching kids to love to write a note is to start when they are young. As I wrote Grandma and Grandpa to thank them for the gifts they gave my kids, I made sure my kids were aware of my efforts. I had them pick the card and envelope. I encouraged them to decorate the back side of the envelope or draw a picture of the gift they were thankful for.

I let them lick and apply the stamps (now you can personalize the stamps if you are as organized as Martha Stewart...otherwise, just get a stamp on the envelope!). They could lick the return address label as well.

I always got excited to receive a letter. I pointed out the difference between the bills I received and the personal letters that came every so often! I tried to make a big deal out of receiving a note so my kids would realize what others might feel receiving something from them in the mail.

As my kids got older, I would have them tell me what they wanted to say to Grandma or Aunties or whoever we were thanking. I would write down exactly what they told me to and then have them sign the note however they could.

When they were old enough to write a line or two, I had to resist making any correction of grammer or spelling for fear that I would squelch their enthusiasm for getting their words on paper.

By the time my kids could write a thank you note on their own, I had to impose a rule that they could not use the gift given to them until a note was sent. They knew by then that meant they had to get a card, write it out, find a stamp and address label and then they would give it to me to put the name and address of the recipient on the front of the envelope.

Teaching kids the joy of sending and receiving real live mail is an on-going process, but well- worth the effort. Stick with it and perhaps you will be the recipient of notes you will treasure in years to come.