Before the Dawn

Life continues to give me lessons.  It's a shame that I have to relearn them sometimes.

I used to get up before dawn and spend time with God...reading the Bible, thinking, praying, listening.  It was quiet and uninterrupted time and truly helped me put God first...put God "before the Dawn".

I don't know what led me away from that time. I guess it was changes in life.  I didn't need to wake before the children because I would never have a time alone if I didn't.  I, in fact, felt like I needed the extra sleep since my job needed more energy now and my children seemed to keep me up later as they got older.  And yet, there was no other time as focused as that morning time seemed to be.

As I sit here today at 11:00...right in the middle of breakfast cooking, movies playing, laundry chores.... I realize once again....you have to be prepared before the chaos starts.  That's the key....I'll say it again....You have to be PREPARED before the chaos starts.  You cannot become grounded once the ground starts moving.  You cannot get a handle on the issues, when you are in the middle of the issues.  I have trouble "seeing through" the activity, to find God, if I haven't put Him beside me before the activity starts.

I encourage you to prepare yourself as well.  I ask for prayers that I may find the energy to renew that old habit of getting up before the dawn of a new day. I encourage you to study and learn and pray and build habits that will sustain you when the chaos of life hits.  Build your foundation before the storms hit.  Renew your energies each night and your focus each day! 

Bad Hair Day

Here's one for my archives--dedicated to new parents or teachers

Discipline can be compared to the way you style your hair. Are you "in-control" or do you just want it to be manageable? Neither seems right or wrong until you have "a bad hair" day. A person who controls their hair with curlers, spritz, foam, hair dryer, hair straighteners and mousse can really be thrown when this side refuses to lie down. Think now of the manager who brushes their hair, only to find one side with a wave-so that is the hair's choice today--something to be dealt with-the manager then tries all the optionsl--the barett, the raid, the hairband, the panytail, etc.and finds the plan that will work for today--sometime by the way-both resort to the hat! But in the long run, or the short run, consider which one maintains their sanity over the small issues-the controller or the manager?

So the next time you have a "bad hair day" with the kids, consider how much "mousse" you "usse"! Do you manage the situation and try all the options or do you try to control the situation?

Taking management a bit further is the training aspect. Remember, the days of wearing wings in your hair and when you first got them cut you had to "train" them to go back, otherwise they hung straight down by your face! It's the same with kids in a new situation, they need good training in the beginning, but once they know what to do--just like the bangs or the wings=--they will (on most days) fall right into place on manageable days! But keep that bag of baretttes and hair bands ready...

Visions of Peace Introduction

We know that negative feelings can separate us from others and God’s peace.  When we react to these feelings we feel shame, regret, or sinful. These are more negative feelings. And thus begins a downward spiral.