Amy Sullivan

Safe Internet Options for Our Girls

2013-06-19T10:36:00.000-04:00

I want to protect my tween girl from the drama and danger, which comes with the online world. My solution: Keep her access to the Internet as limited as possible.

And let me tell you. This strategy has worked great.

Until now.

When I was growing up, the end of the school year meant exchanging phone numbers with all my friends. For my daughter (whose group of friends don’t have cell phones yet), it meant exchanging email addresses.

Email addresses? Really?

Then, our girl started making The Sullivan News, a weekly newsletter to send to our far away, family members, and the email question came up again.

And again my response was an email address? Really?

These exchanges prompted me to check out kid-friendly email options, and to share my new found knowledge with you. I’m not techy, and I craved two things: safe and simple.

What I discovered is there are companies who provide safe email access for your girl by giving her a taste of the freedom she desires and the ability for you to still supervise her online communication.

Today, I'm sharing about this very thing.

Follow me here.

Do you know some of the women involved in this ministry? If you are raising teen or tween girls, it's a must click.

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I'm still on a blogging break, but I will be back in full force soon. Can't wait to talk then!

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A Quick Video Message

2013-06-10T08:00:00.001-04:00

(email subscribers, please click here)

Comments are closed. Talk to you soon!

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On Serving People Just Like Me and What to Do When a Scooter Crashes in Front of Your House

2013-06-09T12:30:00.000-04:00

Last week, a group of people started a summer challenge, a challenge to see and love others better.

Author, Alene Snodgrass pushed us to think with her book Graffiti: Scribbles from Different Sides of the Street, and now, she wanted us to put action behind our thoughts in a study called Graffiti Summer (by the way, the book goes with the study and the study is free, free, free).

The goal for this week was to serve someone different than ourselves.

I decided to modify the assignment and focus on the first half of the goal: serve someone (I like to make my own rules and the "someone different" part of our assignment was throwing me off). See, it was the last week of school and serving others would be easy, but I didn't have time for this "someone different than me business".

Our family was already working on a cool gift for our favorite senior (who is easy to love because of her spunk and her heart).

We were planning a surprise appreciation breakfast for the staff at our youngest's preschool (they are easy to love because they love my daughter well).

Plus, we were giving extra attention to a life-long friend (who is easy to love because we have history).

There I sat, and I felt great. I was loving people, and it was easy because the people who line my life are good to me and loving them feels great. In fact, it's fun.

But the problem was all of the people who I wanted to serve were like me. They talk like me. We watch the same TV shows. They go to churches like mine. We show up at the same dance class.

I knew this wasn't the goal of our summer study, and I prayed someone different would show up. Even my prayer bordered selfish. I certainly didn't have time to search someone out. So, God could you just drop a person in my life?

The very same day someone ran a scooter into the rocks across the street from my house.

The only person who might ride a scooter in my neighborhood would be a teenager. Our neighborhood is too far out to be a destination for an adult, but there she was, an adult, and she was kicking and cursing and tossing her belongings on the lawn.

First thought: An adult on a scooter means DUI.
Second thought: Geesh, she is rough, and she curses a lot, and wow, that's a lot of Hello Kitty gear on one person, and I wonder why she won't stop kicking the scooter.
Third thought: God is so funny, like really funny.

That's how God works. If you are open to serving others, He will make it happen. Pray you need to meet someone different than you and He will crash a scooter in front of your house.

And when He does, you better quit making dinner. You better thank Him for always showing up and then, find out what you can do to help.

Here's to the perfect start of my summer and to God crashing people into our lives.

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If you are interested in participating in a summer challenge, go dig around Alene's place, and discover how God is pushing others to rethink ideas about serving others.

Do you seek out people who are different from you or do you wait for God to send them crashing in?

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One Way to Beat Your Fear of Falling

2013-06-07T06:35:00.001-04:00

There is only one way to beat your fear of falling.

Force your feet to leave the slippery tile and jump.

Lean into the unknown and remember there is power in the act and not the result.

Today I pray ambition stomps all over fear and leaves her standing alone and dry at the side of the pool.

You've got this one.

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On Fridays, a few of us writerly types gather and write about the same prompt. Today's prompt: fall. The rules? No rewrites, no edits, no thinking too hard.

Tell us about an area in which you've been hesitant to jump into. A new friendship? Ministry idea? Different job? A move?

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Past Five Minute Writes:
Flaws and Freckles
Conversations in Tweendom
When Your Ancestors are Gypsies and Sailors

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How To Keep Your Girl Out of the Hotness Contest

2013-06-04T05:57:00.002-04:00

Back in the day, seniors voted for what we called "bests and mosts". Best hair, best personality, most likely to succeed, most athletic. In high school, being recognized by your peers felt good. Who am I kidding? As an adult, being recognized by your peers still feels good.

This sort of "best and most" voting still happens only now it's online, and now there's a twist.

Each May, Issaquah High School hosts a hotness contest. During this online tournament, high school girls are chosen and receive votes for being sexy. Girls get dolled up, and guys vote.

Kind of makes you squirm, right?

(email subscribers, please click here)

Even though you may want to tsk, tsk, the boys, the parents, Facebook, or the school, the first step in closing down a hotness tournament is eliminating the contestants.

And by contestants, I mean our girls.

For most of us, hotness contests seem years away. Our girls sport basketball shorts and graphic T's with turtles, but ideas about pretty started forming long before our girls could walk. Our daughters started to understand feeling beautiful was often associated with compliments the first time someone said, "Your daughter is so cute. I want to spread her on a biscuit" (Sidenote: It doesn't matter how long I live in the South, I will never understand that phrase. Oh, and I like biscuits. It just seemed like a good time to remind you of both).

We need to start encouraging our daughters to measure beauty in real ways and not in likes, shares, or online beauty contests.

Ways Moms Can Close Down Hotness Contests

1. Pay attention to what your girl wears. Shopping together is a great way to grow and shape your girl's taste. It opens conversations about ideas which bombard your girl. Yes, the pink, sparkle shirt is adorable, but a ten-year-old has no idea what the over-sized bubble letters spelling out "available" means.

2. Ignore what your girl wears. This one is tough especially when your daughter is trying out her new look on Sunday morning or at a family gathering. Let her pair those cowgirl boots with shorts, winter scarf (in the summer), paisley bandanna, and the wicker-like purse. We give appearance too much power when we constantly toss out fashion advice.

3. Help her see beauty in acts and not appearance. Tell her she is beautiful, especially when she is showing you the beauty in her heart. Look for the kindness your girl shows, and start associating compassion with beauty.

4. Quit hiding the hard stuff. As much as we want to shield, showing our girls the ugly opens lines of communication.

5. Encourage involvement in sports. Help your daughter see the value in taking on a task which pushes her physically and makes you feel as if you may drop on the ground and die.

6. Surround your girl with solid girlfriends. Your girl won't always think you are the bees knees especially if you continue to practice Just Dance moves in Target (I can't stop myself). You need to recruit people for the front lines and front line people are your girl's solid friends and the families of those forever friends.

Your turn. Tell me how you fight the world's ideas about beauty in your house. How are you working to make sure your girl doesn't end up in the hotness contest?

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Linking with SDG.

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Fresh Air Starts Fresh Thinking

2013-06-02T14:12:00.002-04:00

It's a dreary Sunday. So, what does that mean?

Movie day!

Nilofer Merchant tosses out a staggering statistic. We sit for over nine hours a day.

According to Merchant, fresh air translates into fresh thinking, and I happen to agree.

Heads-up. This segment is only three minutes long. Surely, we can't have a long video about the dangers of sitting. No way.

(Email subscribers, please click here)

Check out others who believed walking inspires thinking. Hello, Steve Jobs.

And now I am off (with an umbrella!). A little rain won't deter my outdoor creative time.

*Comments are closed. Don't type. Just move.

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My friend is hosting a make a difference, stretch yourself, have fun, summer challenge. It starts this week. Read more about it here.

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If Answers Arrived in a Box

2013-05-31T06:05:00.000-04:00

Imagine if God sent us life's answers in a box.

The box might sit on the porch, and I would probably forget to pick it up. I do that, sometimes, forget the mail. I might think the box contained answers for someone else, and I should let them experience the peeling back of the tape and the digging into the cardboard.

So, the box would sit.

I’d stare at the box, cook dinner, and put off opening it.

Probably because I felt surprised answers would arrive at my door. Probably because I spent a decent amount of time looking for them.

When I finally decided to open what was in front of me, I’d find something I didn’t deserve, and instead of rejoicing, I'd snuggle up on the couch, watch The Tudors, and elect not to write a thank you.

Weird.

Thinking about you and the unanswered questions which dance in your head.

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And along the same lines, but not really, I've been digging this quote.

"God’s love is based on nothing, and the fact that it based on nothing makes us secure. Were it based on anything we do, and that 'anything' were to collapse, then God’s love would crumble as well." Smart words said by this guy.

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It’s Five Minute Friday and that means writers stay up late, get up early, or carve out five minutes to gather and write about the same prompt. This week's prompt? Imagine.

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Links So Good You Will Want to Eat Them Up With a Spoon

2013-05-30T06:06:00.001-04:00

Get ready.

People are cranking out the good stuff, and it is my duty as a lover of good content to share.

Here we go:

She's an Activist, but even more than that, she loves her community, and she knows He is working there. If you have ever visited Shannan Martin's blog, you will want to run out and buy her a BFF necklace.

100 Ways to Give Back Over Summer Break. Pin it, print it, love it.

Graffiti Summer: A Challenge for You to Break Out of Your Comfort Zone and Act. Make sure your summer is about more than sunscreen and time off. I'm participating in this challenge, and I'd love for you to jump in too.

Talk to Your Girl About Puberty Now (so she doesn't ask Google). Laura at Pruning Princesses is stirring up conversation this week and giving things away. Who doesn't love free stuff?

Your turn! What are some favorite posts you have read/written lately? Share, share.

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All images used in this post were completely stolen from the author's site without permission. Authors, sorry, sorry, sorry.

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The Social Part of Social Media

2013-05-27T20:33:00.000-04:00

Recently, a bloggy friend (who, by the way, gave me permission to talk about her today) emailed me about her social media frustration. She blogs regularly, posts on Facebook, tweets it up on Twitter, and even ventures into the uncharted land known as Google+.

My friend has mad writing skills. She also has a strong message. In addition, this girl is genuine not only online, but off.

So why do my friend's online efforts go unnoticed?

Simple. Uh-mazing content isn't enough. When using social media, you must be social.

It's true.

It would be nice if we could blast out updates and tweets and subtract the personal factor, but that's not how social media works.

Think about yourself at a party. You avoid the people who just talk about themselves (yuck!), but it's equally as hard to be with someone who doesn't engage with you (again, yuck!).

Case in point, my sad Facebook Page. I post on it because I'm supposed to, and I reply when people engage with me. Do I like it? Nope. Is it evident in my lack of FB engagement? Sure is.

Now let's discuss my love for Twitter. Insert flying birds, sappy music, a tilt of my head, and thoughtful sigh. Do I use Twitter to engage and build relationships with others? Sure do. Is it evident in my engagement on Twitter? Sure is.

In this recent screen shot, you can see I try to focus on dialogue and not just updates.

And that's my two cents.

Now, let's hear what you think. My friend will be peeking in.

Do you have any advice for her on the social part of social media? Does online socializing come easily to you? Do you have to work at it? How do you engage with readers and friends online?

Linking with SDG.

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An Update on Risk and Guacamole Burgers

2013-05-26T14:49:00.000-04:00

When I told you I didn't like restaurants, I also told you this was the year in which I decided to risk.

One the risks I hoped to take was running a 5K, (just a regular 'ol day for all of you runners out there, but for a girl who runs like Pheobe from Friends, even uttering 5K seemed terrifying).

Last week, my daughter's Girls on the Run 5K was rained out. Since this 5K was supposed to happen rain or shine, I deemed the cancellation a special gift from God. He was telling me He heard my constant pleading and silent cursing about running the race, and maybe, just maybe, the canceled race was my way out (fingers crossed).

And then the race was rescheduled.

Sigh.

To prepare, I went to Steak and Shake the night before and ate a giant Guacamole Burger. I hear this is how champions train, run a total of ten times before the race, and then consume Guacamole Burgers.

It worked people, it worked! I didn't vomit or die, and it was fun, but just a little. Fine, fine, it was big time fun, but shhhh, don't tell these three.

We can't make a habit of this running business.

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To all of you mommas of tween girls out there, if you don't know Girls on the Run, you simply must.

Are you a runner? Tell, tell.

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The View from 4 am

2013-05-24T06:02:00.001-04:00

I wake up at 4:00 in the morning because that's where ambition and obsession give each other a quick nod, refuse to make eye contact, and keep walking.

Instead of my usual routine of pounding out words and gulping down multiple cups of coffee, I decide to sit on my front porch. Sure, I feel crazy sitting on my porch sporting plaid pajama bottoms, a tank top, and morning hair, but do you know what I see?

Nothing, people. I see nothing. It's 4:00 am, and it's dark. I don't even see the cars parked in my driveway.

And that's the point.

When the world is dark, maybe the best thing to do is to quit trying to make out what sits off in the distance and instead rest on your porch.

What off in the distance ideas and issues have you been tossing around in that little head of yours? Tell, tell. Are you a good rest-in-the-darker?

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This post is part of a series called Five Minute Friday where writers gather and write for five minutes without worry if everything is just right. Translation: Don't edit, just write. To read more Five Minute posts click here. This week's topic: view.

Oh, did you hear the news I shared via Pig Latin on a ookbay ontractcay? Crazy, crazy.

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News of an Ookbay Ontractcay

2013-05-21T19:21:00.001-04:00

Recently, I drove to a writers conference. People came from all around the United States for this conference, but for me, the conference sat three towns over.

I typed in the conference center's name in the trusty GPS and headed off. Sure, sure, the drive took a smidge longer than planned, but who doesn't love alone time in the car belting out Top 40 Hits?

Thinking back, there were signs I was headed the wrong direction: multiple neighborhoods, a one way road, the barking dogs, the rundown trailer, but I kept going.

Finally, I ended up at an abandoned summer camp, a summer camp with the same name as the conference center I was looking for.

Huh.

Sitting at the edge of the abandoned camp reminded me of my road to publication: winding through neighborhoods and one way roads, passing barking dogs and rundown trailers, and finally ending up at an abandoned summer camp.

Indeedy, for me, publication has meant lots of starts, stops, and crazy wrong turns.

So, there I sat. Seriously considering throwing myself into the murky pool of water which I hoped future campers wouldn't be forced to swim in.

But I thought about the good advice I recently read.

"Dismiss the voices of perfection and competition. They are loud but quite unenlightened. They’d have you waste your entire life."

I thought about the words my husband threw my way the night before.

"Make sure your road to publication doesn't destroy your love of writing."

I thought about the knowledge L.B. Cowman smacked down in a dusty, old book that seems to speak directly to me.

"Since God's Word cannot fail, whenever we meet these simple conditions (John 15:7) the answer to our prayer has already been granted and is completed in heaven as we pray, even though it may not be revealed on earth until much later."

All of the above pieces of truth jarred me, and I tossed the car in reverse.

Good thing too.

Because news of an Ookbay Ontractcay (transport yourself back to fourth grade and remember Pig Latin) was waiting for me just a few miles ahead.

More later on this later.

Love you guys.

*Comments are closed because obviously if I'm sharing news in Pig Latin, I may not be ready to converse about this just yet. Eeek.

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Linking with Jen and crew.

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7 Favorite Writes On Raising Girls

2013-05-19T15:26:00.000-04:00

Today I'm tossing out favorite writes from the archives on raising girls.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for commenting. Thanks for mothering well.

1. Rallying Girls for Good and an Almost Sleepover. A fun way to rally all of that tween girl energy for good.

2. 10 Books for Girls that Birth Strength. Because I love lists. Who doesn't love lists?

3. A Video with Highlights From Our Mom and Daughter Doing Good Scavenger Hunt. Fun idea for a girls group or youth group. Race to do good mom and daughter style.

4. 5 Steps to Start a Kid Centered Summer Book Club. Perfect idea for summer. A kid-centered book club is a great way to get to know your neighbors and the friends of your girl.

5. Conversations in Tweendom. Just in case you pretend the spaghetti noodles need stirring just to grab extra time with your girl.

6. Why I Pretend to Love Crafting. Duct tape may drive me crazy, but she's wild about it.

7. To My Girls on Using Your Words. Don't let iCarly dictate how you live.

And just in case you are wild about pinning and passionate about raising girls.

Raising Girls Board. Because You know I love me some Pinterest.

Other favorite girl related writes from around the net.

Letting Her Be Left Out. Laura cranks out the wisdom.

Vicky Courtney Shares About Nice Girls Being Made Not Born. Awesome post from Vicky when she visited us here.

Raising Girls in a World that Devalues Them: 7 Things We Must Tell Them. Kristen from We Are That Family breaks down seven must share lessons.

Tips for Enhancing the Mother Daughter Relationship. Number three is my favorite tip.

Are you raising or have you raised a girl? Tell, tell. What's the best part of mothering a girl? What's the hardest?

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Battling Senioritis With Bingo

2013-05-17T05:50:00.001-04:00

I know a senior, a bright and beautiful senior named Lizbeth.

Meet Lizzie.

In the midst of a bad case of senioritis, Lizbeth discovered a little about serving others and a lot about herself. Lizbeth, thanks for allowing me to share part of your Senior Project here. Here's Lizzie.

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. . . And then the biggest shock of my life came when I volunteered a day of my time at the Brian Center in Weaverville. And it was this: Life isn’t all about me.

Wow, I’ve been focused on what life can give me instead of what I can give back. In these hours of unselfish giving, I discovered a feeling of total fulfillment. My heart had never felt as satisfied as it did when it was time for me to go. I know I’ll go back though, because it wasn’t even me that did the giving. I ended up being the ultimate recipient. No, I didn’t get to shout “BINGO” or take home any of the monies being rewarded, but I ended up winning it all.

The day that I was there, I wasn’t feeling particularly pretty, genuinely appreciated, or really loved. You know what I mean? Typical day in the life of a teenager. Dot, (who told me her real name was Dorothy but that all of her friends called her Dot) was a lady with whom I got particularly close.

Taking both of my hands in hers, she said: “Gorgeous girl, you need to stop biting your nails. What is it? Stress? Life’s too short to worry about whatever it is you’re worrying about.” Giving Dot a giant hug, I managed to squeeze out a muffled “Thank you, Dottie.” “God bless you!” she said in reply.

Working hard for what you want and being pushed to do things out of your comfort zone enables a thought process of confidence, responsibility and overall prosperity in a person. Accomplishing things on my own, finding service to be a birthright, and becoming familiar with capability are all traits that I’ve picked up in these past couple of months.

The truth remains- I still can’t wait to get out on my own. I am excited, and yet, I’m a little frightened of the future and what it will bring. But I know my Heavenly Father has a plan for me. “Be still and know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.

Bottom line? I’m blessed. I am beautiful. I am loved, and I am a child of God.

I’m ready for college.

Bring it. BINGO!

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Thanks for sharing a section of your paper, Lizzie.

Think back, way back. What were you doing at the end of your senior year of high school?

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Chatting It Up With CausePub

2013-05-15T17:34:00.001-04:00

The idea behind CausePub is simple: Choose a cause, rally writers and artists to submit work, edit and publish a book, donate half of the proceeds to the cause, give contributing authors a portion of the profit. Repeat.

Recently, Griff Hanning, co-founder of CausePub (short for Cause Publishing) and I chatted it up about my involvement with CausePub.

Look at my face in the freeze frame below.

Seriously, I must like you guys a lot, or maybe I am just really excited about this project.

Either way, I look like a total crazy person.

(email subscribers, click here)

Interested in submitting a story of your own? Head here.

Interested in learning more about the cause CausePub is writing for? Read this.

Interested in reading CausePub submissions by some of my writer-ly friends?

Check out the following links:

Beck

Jill

Julie

Lisa

Gaby

Brandee

Oh, voting for one of these couch rebels is easy peasy. Click on over to show them some love.

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Finding Jesus in the Smiling Square Faces

2013-05-13T19:30:00.000-04:00

(A shout out to online friends turned real-life friends)

It’s easy to lose track of Jesus online.

Bloggers blast out words at all times of day and night. Pieces of truth they are learning, and that truth is usually accompanied by a beautiful picture with a moving piece of scripture inscribed in cool font.

Tweets and likes and +1’s, cloud my thinking, and it doesn’t make sense that Jesus can be the topic of almost every post I read and yet, somehow go missing.

When I start feeling like this, I know it’s time to unplug, and I do so happily.

Who will notice? Surely, the smiling, square faces from Arizona, Arkansas, and across the ocean are busy, and if I close shop for a time, it would go undetected.

Insert speculation about the quality of my online relationships.

Today I am writing about finding Jesus in the smiling square faces.

Care to join me? Click here.

*Comments are closed, but wow, the comments under the post make me smile.

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Linking with SDG.

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The Beauty Strangers See

2013-05-12T20:30:00.000-04:00

Today as you reflect on mamas, grandmothers, and women who shaped you, I encourage you to think about beauty, the kind of beauty women don't always see when we look in the mirror.

We fixate on our too big smile, sun spots, and the laugh lines no amount of moisturizer will erase.

But ask strangers about the beauty we possess, and we get another picture.

(email subscribers, please click here)

Convicted? Me too.

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She Drives While Doing an Interview and Writes Books

2013-05-09T20:07:00.001-04:00

As a wrap-up to our virtual book club on Cleaning House: One Mom's Twelve Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement, author, Kay Wyma answers book clubber's burning questions.

I love the fact that Kay answered questions in her car, in her kitchen, and among the hammering of home improvements.

Watch this.

You will like her. Yes, you will.

Amy's Book Club from Kay Wyma on Vimeo.

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Also, the link to the book Kay mentioned in the video, Practice of the Presence of God.

Wrap-up posts by other book club members.

Steph (my co-hostess with the mostess).
Jenn (who wrote each week, that's dedication girl!).

Favorite posts throughout the month by other book clubbers.

Spring (love her photos).
Karrie (oh, wise one).
Lisa (duct tape wallets and pictures of the grandparents).
Courtney (ideas on teamwork).

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Thanks again for reading, book clubber,s and thanks too to Kay for hanging out with us. We appreciate you!

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Crowdfunding 101

2013-05-06T21:18:00.000-04:00

The word crowdfunding has been popping up all over, but do you know what it means?

Crowdfunding describes a way people come together (most of the time online), and pool their money to support a predetermined goal or cause.

Money raised from crowdfunding can be used in a variety of ways.

To rally around someone in need of support. Do you remember the 68 year-old bus monitor who was bullied by 7th graders? When the video of the bullying went viral, an account was set up with Indiegogo to help send the bus monitor, Karen, on a much deserved vacation. The goal was to raise $5,000. Instead, people from around the world donated over $700,000.

To help kids achieve dreams. Do you remember Caine's dreams of a cardboard arcade? One boy's dream of operating his own arcade turned into over $231,000 in scholarship money from over 19,000 donors.

To make movies. Zach Braff wants to make a follow-up to Garden State. Hello, I don't need to say anything else. Everyone should just go over and fund this movie immediately. However, the big movie makers did not see it that way, and therefore, Zach used crowdfunding to raise money. Did it work? See for yourself.

To make music. A shout out to an Asheville band, The Honeycutters. This group is using crowdfunding to make their third album.

To make a difference. Krochet Kids in Peru started off using crowdfunding. The goal of Krochet Kids was to help marginalized women in the outskirts of Lima, but it has now turned into an international organization which empowers people to rise above poverty.

To make a book. Pubslush is a crowdfunding publishing platform. This one is for all of you writerly types out there who feel frustrated with traditional publishing. Authors raise funds and feel out interest of potential readers. I don't know anyone who has ever worked with Pubslush, but Pubslush isn't just about crowdfunding and publishing. For every book sold, Pubslush gives a book to a child in need. You know I'm liking that idea.

What do you know about crowdfunding? Have you ever supported a crowdfunding campaign? Do you love Zach Braff as much as I do (Let me help you out on that one, no!)?

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Oh, and so we are clear. Crowdfunding isn't just about rainbows and money falling from the sky.

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Image credit.

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When the Too Huge World Vaults Us and the Art of Good Bye

2013-05-04T07:07:00.000-04:00

"What is the feeling when you are driving away from people, and they recede on the plain till you see their specks disappearing? It's the too huge world vaulting us, and it's good-bye."

—Jack Kerouac

There is an art in saying good-bye. My mom and my daughter's, ten-year-old, best friend are masters.

My mom walks guests to their car, and waves until the car is completely out of sight, hard. Her wave is determined and with its back and forth motion says, "You are missed, you are thought of, you are loved."

Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.

My mom stands planted, and when you look over your shoulder, she is still waving even if your focus has turned to the road ahead. My mom's wave lets you know she won't forget you.

My daughter's best friend, prances to our car and doesn't stop shouting final farewells until we begin to climb the winding hill which leads us out of her neighborhood.

When people depart from this little girl's house, she jumps up and down and lists each person by name or nickname or both in a string of love cries.

"Good-bye, Amy!"

"Bye Mia!"

"Bye, bye Ru, Ru!"

"Monkey, monkey, monkey!"

"See you, Ruby Duby!"

"Come back, come back!"

When I leave the best friend's house, I feel loved.

A ten-year-old without thought or planning makes our family feel loved and connected, even when the busyness of life threatens to push us to the next task.

I'm not sure what our "too huge world is vaulting" you into this weekend, but I pray it's full of small acts of kindness, words of encouragement, and intentional acts of love, even when you are saying good-bye.

How do you say good-bye? Do you sneak away, leave notes? Are you a back and forth, back and forth waver?

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In case you missed it, May = Month of Missions. I'd love to hear about your favorite missionary or missionary family. Pop on over and add to the conversation.

Also, did you read the posts from those who lead discussion of Week Three of our virtual book club conversations?

Courtney
Jenn
Lisa

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Do Not Even Think About Taking Me Out to Dinner

2013-05-01T07:12:00.000-04:00

When Sarah asked me to participate in Wedded Wednesdays, I almost said no.

Rarely, do I talk about the husband on the 'ol blawg. It's not because he isn't uber fantastic or uber hot.

See, I told you.

This is him on an average Saturday waiting for a parade to start.

Sure, sure. He's giving me the "I'm so annoyed because you won't stop taking pictures with the ipad and you've lost another camera of ours" face but you know, there's no denying he's a cutie.

Phew. Back to the point.

I usually don't talk about the husband on the blog because I like to keep us, well, us.

Soon after Sarah asked me to write a post for her marriage series, a friend and I were talking about married life. My friend said she didn't want to go out to dinner for the occasional Date Night. After all, where's the fun in ordering another Chicken Cesar Salad and going to the movies?

Yawn.

Down with boring salads and perfectly cooked steaks (well, maybe not the steaks).

My friend and I started talking about dates and how the best dates were dates in which you actually went and did something instead of quietly staring at a big screen for two hours.

Amen.

See, here's something you may already know, guys would rather jam a fork in their eye than go out for coffee and talk. True statement.

Hence, the list.

Join me at Sarah's where I'm busting out date night ideas (which are actually fun!), and I'm asking you to add to the list.

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In Real Life 2013

2013-04-28T13:44:00.000-04:00

This Saturday I woke up late, tossed on jeans, pulled my wet hair back in a ponytail, picked up two friends, and headed to Greensboro for the 2013 (in)RL conference.

(in)RL, which stands for "in real life" is a gathering of woman across the nation and in twenty-four countries who believe online community can be developed beyond comment boxes and blog posts.

The women pictured below create headbands, paper flowers, love stories, snapshots of life, unpunctuated poetry, organizations that help, and words which inspire.

*For the record, I started out sitting in the second row from the top and somehow ended up front and center.

Jen shared her home.

Lara shared her heart (for real, this girl may be petite in stature, but she's mighty in wisdom).

Women shared stories of both the need and fear regarding community.

Oh, and we ate, a lot. As in I may have consumed half a tray of black bean and cheese dip.

And do you know what? No one even noticed my unbrushed hair, wrinkled-up jeans, or the fact that I showed up to a party without an amazing dish to share.

Here's to women who inspire.

Thanks for putting yourself out there.

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Ridding Your House of Entitlement and a Little Something About First Jobs

2013-04-25T19:17:00.001-04:00

Here are the links to those blogging about Chapters 4, 5, and 6 in Kay Wyma's book Cleaning House: A Mom's Twelve Month Experiment to Rid Her House of Youth Entitlement:

Jenn: No Eye Rolling and No Moaning!

Spring: A Real-Life Check In and How Do You Help Your Kids Feel Needed on the Family Team?

Lisa: Straight Talk with Practical Advice.

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Even if you aren't reading along with us, feel free to bounce around and check out how these moms are beating down the ugly beast of entitlement.

Let's hear about your first job! What was it? How old were you? What lessons did you learn while working for the first time?

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They Cannot See Your Cute Necklace and 3 Other Podcast Tips

2013-04-24T19:58:00.000-04:00

Kristen from A Woman Inspired recently asked me if I'd be interested in participating in a podcast for a series on Extraordinary Kindness.

This being my first podcast, I learned a few tidbits I thought worth sharing. You know, because I'm a sharer like that.

1. No one can see your cute necklace during an audio podcast. See, I was about 70% sure this podcast would be audio, but I put on my sassiest necklace, which was a Christmas gift from my stepbrother who happens to be an artist. Alas, you cannot see my necklace because hello, people, it's an audio podcast. I'd like to point out that I wore it just in case. In case of what you might ask? In case Kristen could magically see me through the screen.

2. Whisper yelling at your children during a podcast is totally acceptable. You just have to keep your end of the conversation going so listeners don't sense the fact that you are waving your arm in the air and breaking out your best oh-just-try-and-push-me face.

3. Remind yourself to keep your catch phrases in check. I think I said, variations of "Oh my gosh" or "Oh my goodness" twenty-nine times. I wish I was exaggerating.

4. Talk slowly. My attention span is gnat-like, but let me tell you, my mouth can definitely keep up. I think I may need to slow it down.

Anyway, if you are itching to soak up twenty-two minutes and eleven seconds of chatter with Kristen and I, click your fabulous self on over and listen to the podcast which is a part of A Woman Inspired's series on Extraordinary Kindness.

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Totally unrelated, but not really since we are talking about podcasts. This is my favorite podcast. It's called Manhands and Meatloaf. These two are wise in a random wiseness kind of way and funny, funny.

*Comments are closed.

See you tomorrow when we will be discussing Chapters 4-6 with our online book club.

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On Compulsive Planning

2013-04-22T07:14:00.000-04:00

When your mind spins with a multitude of thoughts, you cannot hear My voice. A mind preoccupied with planning pays homage to the idol of control. Sarah Young, Jesus Calling

I'm not generally a planner.

I can't imagine laying my clothes out the night before work (the husband) or making my lunch the day before I eat it (daughter). Day-to-day tasks get accomplished without much planning on my part.

Looking at the big picture of life is a different story. For me, long term goals stand up and demand attention.

We are funny creatures aren't we?

We can turn just about anything into an idol all in the name of good. When we work tirelessly to make life happen, we give God little room to surprise us with His greatness.

Today I am finished working and ready to be surprised.

Bring on Your greatness, God.

What about you? Do you tend to compulsively plan or let life roll?

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Thanks to everyone who joined us in discussing Chapters 1-3 of Cleaning House in our virtual book club. You guys crack me up.

I've noticed some of you have submitted CausePub's, crowd published book, Couch Rebels. Nice work, world changers.

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