Didn’t see that one coming.

So Harrison recently asked me how he could earn some money from me by doing things around the house. I’d half jokingly said that if he wanted to take over cleaning the bathrooms, that would be great! 😉

He groaned and let it drop…until the next day, when the conversation went like this:

H: Sooo, how much would you give me if I cleaned the bathrooms?

Me: I was kidding. You don’t need to clean the bathrooms.

H: No, really. How much?

Me: Well, what if we started with just your bathroom. I’ll give you $5.

H: <Thinking.> Ok. I’ll do it!

So, he did. And he did a good job, earning his $5. Fast forward a week. I cleaned the bathroom this time, and the conversation went like this:

Me: So, did you notice that I cleaned your bathroom?

H: Yep. Why?

Me: Just wondering where my $5 is. 😛

We both laughed, and I thought that was the end of it. About five minutes later, he leaves the room and returns with $5. Can I just say that I was floored – and totally didn’t see that one coming. How many 10-year-olds would willingly turn over $5 of their own money because of a chore their parent did?

Needless to say, I informed him I was totally joking, and that I’d never expect money for any of the chores I do around the home. That they’re my responsibility as the adult and primary caretaker of the home – and of him. At the same time, it warmed my heart to know that somehow I managed to be lucky enough to be the mom of such a generous young man.

What has someone done to surprise you with generosity? I invite you to take a minute and share your common grounds.

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Celebrating 10 years of life

I cannot believe it! My not-so-little munchkin turned 10 last month! Seriously? How is that even possible?

He has been a joy since he first came into my life. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful, intuitive, intelligent, perceptive, caring son. So, just a little post to say so! (Of course, I’m not biased, or anything.) 😉

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Rock star

Yep. That’s what the munchkin called me tonight. A high school rock star.

Works for me. He can tell me I look like I’m in high school any day. 😉

You see, my mom bought me these cool jeans, we had a family date night tonight at Macaroni Grill, and I didn’t feel like straightening my hair. So, I let it go kinda wild, put on my cool new jeans & off we went. When the munchkin saw me, he said, “Mom! You look good. You look like a high school rock star!!!”

Awesome! He then informed me I should form a band. I should sing, he would dance & Daddy could play the drums. He thought we should call it: Laura & Her Boys. LOL!

Too funny! Let’s hope he continues to think I’m cool. Ha! Who am I kidding? 😉

 

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Sad and Thankful

We’ve had a bit of a sad week. My son’s first grade teacher passed away this week.

My understanding is that she had cancer. She did not teach last year because of it, but felt well enough this year to come back. Everyone was thrilled. She was a woman in her 60s who had made a career in teaching young minds. And she was absolutely wonderful for the munchkin.

She got him. I mean, really got him, ya know? She understood that he was a smart little boy (maybe too smart sometimes), who understands how to manipulate situations to either get his way or make his way easier. She and I were always on the same page when it came to how to handle these innocent manipulations.

We made him do the work. 😉

He often tries to get others to tell him the answer so that he doesn’t have to waste his time trying to come up with them on his own, can get his work done faster, and then can have more time to focus on what he wants to focus on: everyone else. My dad often jokes that he’s practicing to follow in his footsteps as an administrator.

Mrs. S. knew how to handle him, and he respected her for it. Mrs. S.’s passing is a sad day for us all.

Her kids loved her, respected her and knew that she pulled no punches — and that they weren’t going to get away with anything in her classroom. And they learned. They learned the joy of reading and writing. They learned the joy of learning.

And for that she will be truly missed.

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The Heart Knows the Way

I have this lovely inspirational stand-up book on my desk, which was a gift from my dear friend, Ann. Each day I can’t wait to turn over the next page to see what wisdom I’ll find among the pages.

The other day the page staring (or maybe “glaring” is more accurate) back at me read:

Follow your heart. It knows the way.

I suppose one could read this many ways. As a love-struck teenager, I may have taken this to mean I should follow my heart more than my head in choosing my beau. As a young mother, I may have read it as following my instincts instead of the advice of others when caring for my newborn son.

Now, however, I view it as following my heart when it comes to my career, my focus on my family and how I want to serve on a daily basis. And I wonder: What happens when your heart is telling you one thing and the circumstances of your life don’t easily allow for you to follow it? How do you reconcile the two?

And I think it comes down to this: Faith.

Ah, there’s that word again. As you may remember, faith is my “one word” for 2011. My focus.

…I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. ~Matthew 17:20 NIV

How do you reconcile what God is calling you to do with the obstacles life seems to throw in your path? I’d love to hear your advice and what’s worked for you. Drop me a comment below.

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A Recurring Theme

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Have you ever thought someone was trying to tell you something? You know, those times when you seem to encounter the same theme over and over everywhere you turn?

That’s what’s been happening to me lately. I ignored it at first, but it’s clear God is trying to get my attention. And he must have known that it would take a two-by-four to the head to get it through my thick skull. 😉

Here’s the recurring theme:

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

~Jeremiah 29:11 (New Living Translation)

I’ve run into this sentiment around every corner lately. It’s been prevalent on Twitter from all of you lovely folks I follow there. I’ve bumped into this verse in my new venture into Blessings Unlimited. In fact, it’s my Director’s email address. I’ve come across it in blog posts from many of you – whether it be those of you whose blogs I’ve read for months now or from brand new blogs I stumbled across. It just keeps cropping up everywhere I turn.

So what does it all mean?

So…what am I to take from that? Am I to assume that I’m not putting enough faith in God to know what’s best for me? Am I trying to control my life instead of turning its course over to God? Maybe. Probably.

I’m impatient. I want things to happen when I want things to happen. And it’s entirely possible that He’s trying to tell me to let it go. To give it to Him to handle. To trust in Him. To have faith. To follow Him fully.

The One Word

I keep reading all of your one-word posts for 2011 and thinking, “How could I ever come up with just one word to describe my goal, my intent for 2011? Evidently, it’s been staring me in the face this whole time.

Faith.

I thank all of you for sharing your one-word focus for this year, and now I need to start better defining mine. The one thing I know now is that my life and my course for the year is in God’s hands. I need to trust in him to steer me down the path he’s designed for me. I need to have faith that his plans for me are for good, that they will give me hope.

Now it’s your turn. What is your one-word for 2011? What will you focus on this year? Drop me a comment below, and let’s share our common grounds.

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Inspired Christmas Gifts – All for Less Than $12!

Enjoy! Ceramic Serving Platter from Blessings Unlimited®

Hi, all. I just found out that Blessings Unlimited^® is featuring several amazing Christmas specials – while supplies last – all for under $12! You could save between 50% and 81% on 15 products, including this Enjoy! ceramic serving platter pictured here on sale for only $9 – originally $35. Wow!

****Click on this link to view all the specials now.****

If you’re interested in ordering any of these amazing specials or learning more, drop me an email. (You do remember, I’m now a Blessings Unlimited consultant, right?)

Enjoy these Christmas specials carrying inspirational messages. After all, isn’t that the true meaning of Christmas? 😉

Want to see all the products in the Fall Catalog? http://www.blessingsdirect.com/catalog/BlessCatalog.htmlClick here.

Oh, and by the way, now’s the perfect time to find out how you too can become a Blessings Unlimited consultant. I’d love to have you part of my team. Talk about Common Grounds! 😉

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Sweet to the Soul & Healing to the Bones

Image by: jonnysek

Wow. Are you wondering what could be sweet to the soul and healing to the bones?

Words.

But not just any words. Pleasant words.

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. ~Proverbs 16:24 (NIV)

Think about that.

I read a post on (in)courage by Jessica Turner where she was talking about the power of words – and tone. She referenced this verse, and it gave me pause. As a writer, I’m all about the words. I love the way they flow on a page, the cadence and rhythm of a sentence or phrase and how they can cause a reader to get completely wrapped up in them.

But sometimes I forget how they can be used to hurt, to wound, to repel. And sometimes I’m too often reminded. And sometimes I forget how one’s tone can change everything.

How often are your words a honeycomb for others? Do they offer healing to the bones of those around you and sweeten the soul? Something to think about.

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Is someone trying to tell you something?

Do you  ever feel like someone’s trying to tell you something? Maybe it’s in subtle signs that seem to pop up everywhere you turn. It could be a friend’s sage advice, a comment made on the radio or a Sunday sermon.

Sometimes the message may be a bit more pointed. A challenging situation that causes you to re-evaluate the course of your life, a health scare or loss of a loved one that makes you truly identify what’s important in your life, or even a chance encounter with a stranger or long-lost friend that brings with it unexpected opportunities.

For me it seems that situations like this come at a time of change in my life or at a time when I’m faced with a serious decision. And lately, I feel as though I’ve been bombarded with a consistent message: That I need to trust in God to light my path and remember I’m not in this life for me, but to glorify him.

Easier Said Than Done

Right. I don’t know about for you, but for me, that’s harder to do than it should be. I’ve never been one to want others to “fix” my problems for me, tackle the obstacles piling up in my path or fight my battles for me. And, yet, that’s exactly what God calls us to do.

He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe. ~Proverbs 28:26

He calls us to let go, and trust in him.

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. ~ Psalm 37:5-6

Do you ever think someone’s trying to tell you something? How are you hearing from God? I’d love to hear from you. Share your thoughts below so we can find our common grounds.

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Straightening Your Path

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your path straight. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Does your path need straightening? I didn’t think mine did, but lately I’ve been bombarded with similar messages everywhere I turn.

A special guest radio DJ on my normal channel.

An unexpected “prayer Sunday” at a different church we attended this weekend.

Today’s daily devotional.

Hmmm…maybe God’s trying to tell me something. Maybe I should be paying attention.

What suffering and persecution and pain and difficulties do is not so much make us weak, as show us we are weak. Without them, we can deceive ourselves into believing we’re prizefighters. With them, we’re reminded that we’re not constructed to function on our own power.

~Jan Dravecky, Women’s Devotional Bible, Zondervan

Bills. Health issues. Relationship troubles. A fight with a friend. A savage rumor. A church dispute. Who do you turn to when faced with the troubles and difficulties life throws your way? Your spouse? A friend? Yourself? What about God?

What do you think? Does your path need straightening?

Drop me a comment below and let me know your thoughts so we can continue to find our common grounds.

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