Christmas in July

I love summertime...the lazy days and watermelon-dribbled chins. The sunscreen splotches I can't quite rub in on my little one's face and splashing about in the pool until tiny toes and fingers are all pruny. There is something childlike about summer and I love it. And yet, it is apropos that some celebrate "Christmas in July". In the midst of summer fun, it is almost inevitable that I think wistfully of the scarves, mittens, cookies, and carols of Christmastime. Though I am blissfully content to soak up the warmth and fun of summer, I also anticipate the celebration of a different kind that will come in just a few short months.

As I ponder thoughts of Christmas, it makes me think of how I can bring the gentle hope and giving spirit of that season into this season. Being thoughtful and active in serving others and helping out with their needs shouldn't be a December exclusive. It should be in our hearts year-round. Why do I wait to think of doing something nice for somebody until it is Christmas? With this in mind, I am making an effort to do one nice thing each day for somebody this next month. They (whoever "they" are) say that if you do something for 21 days it becomes a habit. I can certainly think of worse habits to have than cultivating a giving spirit.

So July is about over, but August will be a challenge to grow my heart just a little bit bigger. Who wants to join me? Maybe it means sending a note to a friend (it is so fun to get things other than bills via snail mail when you're grown up). Perhaps it's paying for the customer behind you to get a vanilla latte and a scone thrown in for fun. Or it could be ding-dong-ditching a neighbor with a fun package you make with your young ones full of treats. There are so many creative ways to love others, be thoughtful, pay-it-forward. Whatever you call it, it won't just bless the receiver. I guarantee it will swell your heart up just a little bit bigger too.

 Today I am linking up with Rachel Wojnarowski and Beth Steffaniak! Visit these amazing blogs by clicking on their names above!

 

The Praying Mom

Christian bookshelves are filled with great resources on how to pray. Many of these resources are written specifically for moms and are great encouragements to help moms pray regularly for their children, as well as showing them what prayer looks like. The problem is, at my house, these books often sit on the shelf collecting dust. I have great intentions and know that praying for Baby Girl is an important thing to do. But in the midst of getting chores done, cleaning up messes, and being present in Baby Girl's life, prayer often gets left with all the other unchecked items, eagerly waiting to (maybe) make the list of things I want to try and accomplish tomorrow.

How do we make praying for our kids a regular part of our lives? Getting up early could be an option...but to be honest I am lucky to be semi-conscious before my wee one wants to start the day, let alone awake enough to string a sentence together for the Almighty. I often send quick ones throughout the day (something resembling a Facebook message hastily posted to a friend) asking for help with my attitude or wisdom for a sticky situation. But the deep, thoughtful desires I have for my daughter too often get left unprayed.

So lately, after I lay her sweet and peaceful dalmation-clad self in the crib for the night, I have been taking a moment. I stand outside her door and lift up my thankfulness for who she is and my desires for who she will become. Nothing opulent or profound, just my heartfelt yearnings to God that He would continue to grow her strong in spirit and stature. It's not perfect, and it probably never will be. But it is a start, and it's a daily reminder to me of how blessed I am to be the one chosen to mother this specific girl, with all of her specific personalities and nuances. The more I lift her up in prayer, the more my heart becomes aligned with God's heart towards her...seeing her not just as she is but also as who she is becoming. My precious girl needs my guidance and direction to get there...and I need God's guidance and direction to lead her.

The books on prayer might get read someday, and maybe someday I will have a more defined place and time to pray. Until then, I will continue to be the praying mom by talking to God about my needs, desires, and hopes as they come throughout the day. I will be the praying mom through praying with my little one and teaching her how to talk with God. I will be the praying mom through finding a few moments in the quiet to thank God for each moment with my girl and ask His help me be the mama He's called me to be.

Today I am linking up with Rachel Wojnarowski for Whimsical Wednesdays (check out her blog here) and Beth at Messy Marriage (check out her blog here).

Mamacations: Taking Care of You

 

You have been called by God to partner with Him in taking care of so many people. Your kids, of course, and all the responsibility that comes with mothering: nurturing, feeding, clothing, disciplining, cuddling, washing wounds, cleaning up puke (and many other bodily fluids that were unmentionable premamahood), laughing with (and at), teaching, and loving. And your husband...though many days you may think, "He has got to know where the hamper is. It's been in the same place for five years! Why do his dirty clothes always end up on the bathroom floor!?". Ahem, I digress. Your husband needs your love, support, and daily encouragement as much as your kids do.

Outside of your immediate family there is extended family to think about. Making sure mom and dad are healthy and have talked to the grandchildren, remembering your sister's birthday (and making sure a birthday card gets to her sometime within the next six months), helping a family member through a rough day, and the list goes on. All this not to mention the responsibilities we have to make sure our friends know we are still alive, create (buy) something for the bake sake next week, help out with that church event on Sunday (what is it again?), and oh-my-gosh I was supposed to be carpool mom today! It can be exhausting.

How, in the midst of this, do we even have time to think about taking care of ourselves? Thankfully, there are small things we can do that make a big difference in our attitudes and ability to get so much done. So, for those days when you need an extra shot of caffeine, an extra hour of sleep, or a year-long vacation...here are a few ways to "take care of yourself".

1. Breathe. Studies show that learning and using breathing techniques can not only help you feel a little more calm, but can also help physically combat the production of stress hormones. Try this: sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Put one hand on your belly and another on your chest. Take a deeeep breath in through your nose, hold, breathe out slowly through your mouth. Do this between 3 and 10 times and see how you feel.  (Extra time? Do breathing exercises while you take a quiet walk.)

2. Touch. Let's face it, most of us don't have the time or money to go get a professional massage

when we are feeling stressed. But we can help ourselves feel a little bit of refreshment with five minutes of pampering. Go in the bathroom and shut the door. Turn the faucet on warm, lather your hands in soap. Close your eyes and massage each soapy hand and wrist for 30 seconds. Rinse off your hands, dry with a soft towel, and if you have lotion available spend another 30 seconds lotioning up each hand. Take a deep breath, and you are prepared to take on the world once more! (Extra time? Include your feet in the fun...and if you're feeling really frisky maybe even paint them!)

3. Taste. Mmm...that first sip of your favorite beverage. Except, oh wait, you had to chug it down so you could get back to that thing you were doing. Now it's gone and you have no recollection of drinking it. Sound familiar? Try this: when you have a minute of solitude (or at least when you don't have 7 people asking you for 14 different things to be done) take a minute and focus on sipping your beverage of choice. Notice the taste of it on your tongue, the feel of the cup in your hands, the sensation of your mouth starting to water and the way your sip slides down your throat when you swallow. Ah, bliss. (Extra time? Put your beverage in a fun glass...like tea in a teacup or a soda in a tall glass with ice and a staw, and sit outside while you drink it and drink in your surroundings.)

4. Move. Do you have time for a quick walk? It is one of the surest ways to help get us back in the

game. It boosts adrenaline so it can give your lagging body energy, and can help improve attention span by 20 percent! It also produces endorphines which fight stress hormones. If you don't have time for a quick walk (or didn't get outside before temperatures hit 100 degrees) don't worry! Try stretching instead. (Extra time? Go for a hike...not only are you moving but you are out in nature where you can breathe in smells of trees and fresh air instead of car exhaust and cleaning products).

5. Be Thankful. When we focus on what we are thankful for, it makes it harder for us to dwell on things we are grumpy or upset about. I'm not advocating we stick our head in the sand, but when we can't change a situation in the moment (like our toddler throwing a class-A temper tantrum in the middle of the grocery store) it helps to refocus our minds on the positives (like the fact that the aformentioned toddler has a healthy set of lungs and is able to express herself...just not effectively yet). When life feels overwhelming, start ticking off the many things you are greatful for. (Extra time? Get your kids in on the action...start a "thankfulness list" and post it on the refrigerator. Add to it as blessings come to mind.)

Information gathered from webmd.com, .helpguide.org, npr.org, and huffingtonpost.com.

 

Family Time: Doing Life Together! (Part 1)

I haven't forgotten about you all, but am busy loving my family this week! It has been hard to find time to sneak away and write...which is a problem I will gladly take if it means spending family time together! The hubs is off for the week and we have been having a blast just doing life stuff together. It is so nice to have the reconnection that comes from being able to (somewhat) sleep in together and have him join in our daily routine.

Some of the highlights have been him joining me and Baby Girl for swim classes, getting to sleep in while he took care of Baby Girl the other morning, and going on walks! This Friday we are going to head over to a nearby hiking and picnicking area I've wanted to check out for a while now. I am SO EXCITED about it! We may not get the camping trip in we had planned for our July To-Do List but we will at least get to go to the place we were going to camp and scope it out for future camping possibilities! Also, this weekend we are planning on hitting goal three from the aforementioned list and go on a...wait for it...ACTUAL DATE!!! We aren't planning anything too extravagant, but we are planning something fun and just-for-two...and it might involve coffee because, well, we really can't do anything datish without including a cup of Joe in the mix...because outside of my family and Jesus I am pretty in love with Joe (the coffee, remember...just so we don't get any rumors started)!

Well, I better book it because any minute Baby Girl is going to wake from her nap and the hubs will be done with his project...but I missed you too much to not write SOMETHING! So have a fabulous Wednesday and tell me what you are looking forward to this week(end)! *Smiles!* Oh, don't miss part 2 of "Family Time: Doing Life Together"...I might actually write something useful in that one! ;)