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Friday, November 8, 2013

A Nugget in My Pocket

For the past several months,
I have been in Yoga Teacher Training-

I love what yoga does for my mind and my body,
I love that yoga provides for me something that
NOTHING else can even compare with.
I love the concept of yoga,
the poses of yoga and the
application of yoga to daily life-

I guess it's safe to say that
I <3 YOGA!

So while I am in my 
"What do I want to do when I grow up" stage,
I thought doing Yoga Teacher Training would be fun!

I have loved it,
BUT I have to confess, that it has really
taken me on an emotional road of
self discovery and self awareness
that I was TOTALLY unprepared for!

I'm not sure if this happens to everyone-
or just someone like me who is carrying more
garbage than they know about or
want to admit.

One thing that has just been KILLING me
over the past several YEARS
is some decisions that my hubs and I have made
that have me really conflustered!

Because going into them would take all
the cloud space google has to offer, I will
spare you the details-
but in a nutshell, I just can't seem to find any
peace or comfort in this one set of questions.

Well, as I was studying one day,
I had a distinct feeling that I needed to
Quit counting LOSSES-

Devastating MN bridge collapse
HUH, what do you mean 'counting losses'?
It didn't take long before I understood-

Beautiful lesson in the value of family, wellness and gratitude for each day
Over the past 5-6 years we have moved
from wonderful home,
to temporarily living in a friends basement,
to dream home,
to 21 hotel rooms,
back to dream home,
to temporary housing in CA,
to rental home,
to another 4 month temp stint in a hotel,
to dream neighborhood (not so dream home),
to temporary housing in TX,
to TX home...

Did you keep up??
Yeah! Me either!!
Sometimes a blessing is just around the corner of that little maze of life
Anyway,
we have tried really hard to have good attitudes-
we've teased about many of the dynamics of
each crazy living arrangement.
We've laughed, we've joked,
we've made the best of EVERY situation-
until now.
And for some reason, the emotions of the past
several years have crept up and gotten a tight
grasp on a lot of our hearts.

So as I was studying and pondering the impact
of all these moves on my courage and faith to move
forward in uncertain situations, I realized that I
am more cautious, more timid and less trusting
and outgoing than I normally have been.
And I've realized that I kinda don't like it!

I realized I have been counting losses that have
been accumulated over the course of all this change-
loss of stabilty,
loss of friends,
loss of connection,
loss of time due to acclimation,
loss of time due to emotions left unchecked,
loss of..... the list is long-

But by counting all these losses,
I was completely and totally neglecting
all the GAINS of the past several years-
gain of experience,
gain of knowledge,
gain of travel,
gain of friends,
gain of perspective,
gain of empathy,
gain of.... and the list can go on and on-

Annual 4th of July Bike Parade

Friends from birth-
It was such a simple switch,
such a simple & beautiful concept,
and such an empowering concept,
that for some reason I had completely missed it all
while out planning my own Pity Party.

I wish I could declare to friends and family that
this life is all about wonder and beauty and blessings
and abundance and ease and comfort and security
and health and wellness and goodness-

Blessings abound in every obstacle we might face
It just ain't
(that was life before the apple)

BUT 
even amidst it's trial and testing and challenges
and obstacles and doubt and confusion and
frustration and disappointment and
unrealized dreams and hardship and loss
and suffering and pain-
LIFE HAS
has elements of Heaven wrapped up in every day-
we might have to look,
we might have to do a little digging and
for sure, definitely, and most likely
we might have to put on different colored glasses
to see it-
but I know like I know nothing else that
mercy, grace and absolute love
FILL our very existence
every day, every hour, every minute-

Do you see gross dog germs or the faithful companionship between a girl and her dog?
It all depends on if we are going to pick these
little nuggets up and carry them away in our back pockets!




Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Parenting 101: Find a Worthy Mentor



This is the FIFTH post in a series of SIX
about simple tips that have made a HUGE 
impact on the way I have chosen to raise my 
children.
I've definitely offered the disclaimer that perfect,
I AM NOT-

However, I am 100% confident that these simple
nuggets of advice have made ALL the difference
in how I have raised my children. 

This little Parenting tidbit originates in the Bible-

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is training us on
how to be better people, better stewards and 
ultimately how to become like Him. 

Matthew 7:9-10 offers this counsel, 
"or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, 
will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?”  

I think on this often as I consider the relationship 
I have, or want to have with my children and 
as I ponder over the specific needs that they might have.  

Too scared to go on and too courageous to quit

Someone to give a little one on one encouragement
These verses are especially helpful to me 
when I am faced with a difficult situation with one of our children, 
I try to think more on how my Heavenly Father would 
handle the situation rather than how I WANT to handle the situation. 

In every situation we find ourselves in, 
our Father wants to provide a way for us to learn and 
to become better. 
I try to keep that same focus when I need to council 
or even reprimand our children.

Heavenly Father really wants only what is best for us, 
and we can be sure that He will never give us any less than that. 
I find it so much easier to serve and help my children when 
I keep things in perspective of how our Heavenly Father 
constantly loves, serves, teaches, and guides us. 

No matter what the situation, if I slow down long enough 
to ask myself how a perfect and loving Father would handle 
this exact moment, this exact trial or this exact behavior-
I receive the words I need and the understanding required
to teach a righteous truth to my children. 
It is these moments that always seem to end 
positive for both parent and child.

Balancing weight, size and the center stability
Another aspect of this scripture that I love is that as 
I try to align my parenting style with that of my Heavenly Father, 
my relationship with Heavenly Father increases tremendously. 
I become more aware that everything we are given, 
whether it is a blessing or a trial is a gift from our Father 
and intended for nothing more than our good and our experience.  
I have more faith when things are tough, because I am learning 
that He loves me and only wants what is best for me. 


For me, I have chosen my Heavenly Father as the
pattern for my parenting.
However, I will say,
there are A LOT of people that I know have sincerely
impacted who I am and what type of parent I want to be.
It would be horribly misguiding if I left the influence of
many friends, family members and leaders out of the mix.

The old adage that says 'It takes a village to raise a child'
is right on the money in more ways than one.
Extended Family at a Group Obstacle Course learning the value of team work

Me about to go through the final hole in a spider web of challenge! Honestly the things we can accomplish with teamwork
But ultimately, it is YOU who will influence YOUR children
the most!
At least, in my opinion, that is what I aim for.
There are too many scary and dangerous influences that
have the ability to touch our children's lives
(but that is an entirely different matter altogether)

Find your pattern, mold yourself to it
and do not stray from your values,
your ideals,
your instinct in raising wonderful children.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Parenting 101: Create Oppurtunity

Today, I have the fourth post in my Parenting 101 series :)

If you want a re-cap of what I've suggested already 
start here for the introduction and 
Tip #1 is here
and tips #2 is here
Before I go on, I just really want to let you know
that my home is NOT perfect,
my kids are NOT perfect
Family Photo Flop #12,459
and by all means...
I AM NOT PERFECT- not even close!

What brings me to sharing this advice 
with whoever will listen is an overwhelming sense of 
gratitude that I was not alone in raising my own kiddos.
Every good picture is found in a batch of 250 not so good pictures
Though, I don't want to take away from 
any effort that my hubby and I put into raising our children,
there is NO way I want to take the credit for most of 
the habits and attitudes that we created in our home.

EVERYTHING I have done or will continue to do has been
a direct result of help from above!
I have been prompted to start a habit and not until
several years later have I seen the results of that habit formed.
If I deserve any credit at all,
it has merely been that I've been a good listener. 
Nothing more-
But I promise you that these Parenting Tips are the very core
of how we've raised our own children-
and though they won't create perfect kids-
they will create a more peaceful home environment!
That much I can testify to with all my heart.

So now on to the meat of the matter!

Proverbs 22:6 councils parents to 
“Train up a child in the way he should go; 
and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

I live by this mantra with my kids-

Create in your homes the opportunity to feel the 
benefits of a job well done
(and by benefits I don't mean a candy bar or 
ice cream cone if they get their homework done)

Create in your home the very personal opportunity to 
feel the spirit and receive answers to prayers. 
This does not just happen naturally in a busy home, 
you have to actively seek and create these opportunities. 

It is important to be prepared at all times to bear testimony 
of the principles you value and want to help your children
appreciate and value as well. 
If we can teach them to find their own 
testimonies while they are in the protection of our homes, 
they will be better prepared to bear that testimony to their friends 
and to stand firm when faced with temptations or trials.

Long ago I had a dear friend give me some council that 
shaped my thoughts and attitudes. 
She is older than I am, she married a little later in life
and never had children. 

I was bemoaning that she had so much time to dedicate
to personal study and worship. 
She said, “Treisha, you were called to be a missionary
and trainer to SIX of God's most valiant soldiers 
that will certainly be needed in our Heavenly Fathers 
army standing for what is truth and righteousness. 
I was called for another work. It’s important that we EACH
fulfill our callings to our better than best ability.” 

I love that she viewed motherhood as missionary work. 
I think my outlook and approach to parenting changed 
a lot that day. I started to view my role as a mother as much 
more than an endless “To Do list” and more of an endless 
“To Teach” list! 

Don't discount the small stuff you do in your homes.

Dedicate one night a week as Family Night,
a night when NO other commitment can interfere, 
including email, texts and social media notifications!
Enjoying an FC Dallas game in Texas
Study the scriptures together-
your kiddos WILL learn from them and with instruction
WILL learn to apply them to their own lives.

Enjoy family meal time- nightly if possible.
It is around the kitchen table to that I learn the most 
about my children. They may not tell me they've had a bad 
day when I say "How was school", but when they are at the 
table and I can SEE their demeanor is lackluster-
I know to push a little harder and get to the core of their needs
BEFORE I send them off to bed to fret over their concerns. 
Raising a Family is truly a TEAM effort- maintain strong family bonds
Consider if you clean your house once a year-
It's a long, tedious & unpleasant job. 
But, if you do just a little cleaning each day & 
with the help of others it goes quick, and 
sometimes you end up having a little fun along the way! 

The same is true with teaching and raising our children, 
especially where spirituality is concerned. 
If we teach spiritual matters in our home infrequently, 
it is a tedious task for our children and we tend to lose their attention. 
But if we share spiritual thoughts and teachings, 
a little each day, we earn their attention and 
they have room enough to receive what we teach. 

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says, “And these words, 
which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, 
and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, 
and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, 
and when thou risest up.” 

So basically ALWAYS is a good time for teaching your children
the truth that you want them to learn.
Huddled together on a very COLD day at the beach
ALWAYS is the time for guiding them and instructing them 
on becoming the Adults you want them to be!
One of the scarier moments in my parenting career- I no likey heights!
And ALWAYS is the time to build and fortify the values
that will keep your children safe, secure and prepared 
for a life of joy, peace and fulfillment.