Monday, February 18, 2013

{Cleaning closets as a labor of love} What to keep, what to give? Free Printable

Download Robert Morris Quote HERE.

A few summers ago, my sister and I helped my mom and my aunt clean out my grandmother's house.      It was privilege to help, but it was difficult.  
We laughed and cried throughout the week-long process. 

Just like the reality television show, Clean Sweep, we created "give", "throw" and "keep" piles as we worked through the house.  After hauling a lot to the trash, we were left with some useful furniture to pass along to our young adult children and lots of beautiful items {letters, recipes, photos and other treasures} that told the story of my grandparent's lives.  

As a result of that experience, Mr. Wonderful and I are getting a head start purging and sorting our packed closets and overstuffed attics.  We decided the empty nest was a good season for starting the project.  
This wonderful quote by Robert Morris has given me the perfect filter to evaluate each item.  So I ask myself, "Is it useful or beautiful?"
We hope to purge the excess and keep the useful and beautiful.                    
I created a little chalkboard printable for myself~{And to share with you}  
Don't you find it oh, so inspiring?!

This purging and organizing process is meant to bless our children, so we'll leave them with less to sort out later in life.  I also hope to organize family pictures, the children's  artwork and other keepsakes so they can be enjoyed.   I'll be sharing about some of the ways I discover to help make that happen on Bless Your Neighbor.
Won't you join me?

Question:  Have you experienced the difficult process of cleaning out a loved one's house?  What if you spent a little time each week cleaning out your own house so that your children wouldn't be left with the burden of doing it later?

Thursday, February 14, 2013

{Perfect Love} The One who loves you most.


On this day of love... a beautiful reminder:
Our capacity for love exists because of His great love for us.
He loves you.  No matter what.




Wednesday, February 13, 2013

{Music for a Happy Soul} Rend Collective's Campfire Story

My young adult children have the most remarkable taste in music.  
Their generation is blessed with technology~ allowing a generous sharing of music,  exposure to independent musicians and the ability 
to record their own music in a closet on a whim.

This morning, Mr. Wonderful and I received a group text from the kids alerting us about  
       Rend Collective's new album, The Campfire Story.  
This album was literally recorded by a campfire at the beach.  
My heart beat a little faster and I was swept away to Lakeview United Methodist Church Camp when I listened to the first song... they began with a chorus of Kumbaya.

But don't think this is a throwback to 1970. 
It is fresh and real and current and amazing.
Hear the story of it's inspiration in the following video, and then buy it on iTunes.  
It will strengthen your faith, lift your spirits~ 
and put a jig in your step!  
The album ends with with a song called Praise Like Fireworks that had me 
dancing around my office!

And for all my friends who have young adults in your lives~ 
you will be a super cool, in-the-know friend if you tell them about this worship band 
you've discovered called the Rend Collective.  
Find their music HERE.
And their website HERE.

Question:   When was the last time you invested in some new music to feed your soul?
Why don't you send an iTunes gift card and link to the Rend Collective's new album to a friend or college student? 


Sunday, February 10, 2013

{Working with Joy} Mike the Mailman


Image credit: Sean McCabe

Is your work monotonous? 
Does the routine of life rob you of your ability to see the people in front of you every day?  
Take a lesson from "Mike the Mailman."  He works at the Post Office at Penn State.  A postal worker for 38 years, he believes he can bring sunshine to people's lives as he sells stamps and weighs packages.  Take time to watch this segment by CBS  ~ it will inspire you to serve coffee with a smile, call your customer with cheerful voice, or notice the shiny new pair of sneakers your student is wearing.
Watch the video HERE.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

{Loving Your Valentine} Everything you need to spread the love. Free Printables

This season of love makes my heart palpitate!

When I met Mr. Wonderful he turned my world upside down. 
I hyperventilated every time he looked at me with his dreamy brown eyes. 
Two months into our relationship, during February {the love month!}, 
I  KNEW he was my guy.  

It wasn't the big things like diamonds and fine dining that won my heart, 
it was the little, sweet things like...
  • Discovering a rose on the seat of the car when he picked me up for a date.
  • Getting a phone call after he arrived home from our date just to say, "I wanted to make sure I told you how much I enjoyed myself tonight."
  • Noticing the "to do" list on the desk, he would add a line item: "Tell Dwight that you love him." Which I would discover later in the day to the great delight of my heart!
  • The hot air balloon gram that arrived at the school where I was teaching on Valentine's day announcing to every fourth grader that Miss Ridgway was in love.
Circa 1986, Notice the 80's "big hair"!
I'm crazy about the love month because the simple, creative ways to say "I Love You" are encouraged and celebrated~ and the blog world is full of all the inspiration you need to make your feelings known!  I posted some ideas for care packages, red dinner and links to great valentines last year.  All praise to the creatives who generously share their FREE graphic design talent with the rest of us so we can start loving the world!

I've done you're research again this year...
Check out all of these sweet, simple ways to say you're loved, 
then click on the links in the guide below. 

Valentine Peep Notes by Sissy Print
Valentine Decor by Pleated Poppy
The Love Verse by Project Inspire
Paint chip heart garland by Julie Ann Art
Another link up by Joy Ever After
I'll love you always and forever from the Pretty Blog
Have a little Crush on You from The Idea Room



Wednesday, February 6, 2013

{Loving Your Teenager Daughter} What teen girls wish they could tell their moms.


I love my girl.  Sometimes, too much. 
Last summer she asked me to join her on a weekend away~ just the two of us.  
We headed to Galveston where I took this shot of her on the dock.  
Arms spread wide, eyes and heart full of wonder.  
At 21, I am in awe that she is a thriving young adult!   

Some days I wonder how she ever made it~ And in spite of my many desperate-panicky-neurotic-mothering-episodes!  Looking back, it seems that she only began to thrive as God revealed  something to me: 
Desperation is actually fear~  and parenting through fear is unhealthy.  

By shear choice of my will (and the support of other moms),  I began to loosen my grip and relax in her middle school years.  Fear makes us say and do crazy things, we lose our composure when we need it most, even plotting how we might tether our daughter's ankle with a chain to keep her from leaving the house!  It's true that we love them, but we can also use fear-filled love as a means to justify our actions~  "I love her so much!  I just don't want her to get hurt!"

Because I mentor teen aged girls through a ministry called Coffee Talk, I was able to do a little research with the girls in our ministry by asking this question:


   What is it you would like your mother to know, but are afraid to tell her? 
{Ouch. Just reading it makes you squirm, doesn't it?}
Below is a summary of their responses:

I wish my mom would use a different tone of voice.
I wish my mom understood me and celebrated the way I'm wired.
I wish my mom wouldn't get defensive and would admit when she was wrong.
I wish my mom wasn't so overprotective.
I wish my mom would ask how I feel about things and respect my opinion.
I wish my mom would show signs of seeking God and growing spiritually.
I wish my mom would pick her battles and let go of the little things.
I wish my mom would be more fun and make our house a place to bring my friends.
I wish my mom would listen without trying to fix my problems and encourage me more.
I wish my mom would give me more space and trust me more.
I wish I wasn't scared to tell my mom things that bug me about her.

Question: How do you feel when you read through the list? Do you get defensive at the end of every line?  Or do you ask yourself... I wonder if my daughter feels this way about me?  

I believe that most of these issues are rooted in fear {and PRIDE}.  There are times, even now, when I see myself in every one of them.  

You can change the tragectory of your relationship and increase your influence on the heart of your girl with this simple tool: A Report Card for Mom
Download Mom's Report Card HERE.
  
You may use it two ways:  
  • Sit down with your daughter and assess how you're doing.  Get feedback and understanding as you move through each line.        
  •        Simply use it as a tool for self reflection.  Invite the Holy Spirit to teach you as you read through it and then talk to your daughter about your convictions. 
Moms, wouldn't it bless your daughter if you gave her a little speech that consisted of these things....
Tell her you want to learn how to be a better mom and you need her help.  
Ask her to grade your communication skills.  
Ask her what she wants you to know, but is afraid to tell you~ 
and tell her you will listen without overreacting or defending yourself.  
Admit that you sometimes react out of fear, but that fear is rooted in love and sometimes you express your love in an unhealthy way.  Tell her you want to grow to be a mom that responds with love and faith.  

How would you have felt if your mother had said these things to you? 

{A Word of Caution!  Before you give this to your daughter, ask her to be kind and gentle toward you.  Tell her you are willing to learn, even if what she says is hard to hear~ 
And then ask God to give you a tough skin and soft heart!}

Sunday, February 3, 2013

{Engaged!} Free "She Said Yes!" Printable

It was a magical night!
Full of giggles and goosebumps,
and laughing through our tears. 
He started with a private candlelight dinner...
Then serenaded her with a song...
  When he got on one knee, he said that he loved her. 
That he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
Her answer was precious and enthusiastic... 
"Yes, yes! A hundred times Yes!" She said.
Cupcakes and champagne and throngs of people waited  
to offer toasts and congratulations back at her parent's house.
And all our of our hearts REJOICED!
Do you know someone who is getting engaged, or could use these sweet little signs for an engagement photo shoot?  Bless their hearts with wonderful printable signs. 
Trip Carroll, one of Blake's dearest friends, whipped them up for me so we could take this cute shot.  He offers them to you for your personal use, so you can bless someone in love!    
Download "He Asked! She Said Yes!" HERE.
I better get busy~ I've got a rehearsal dinner to plan and a new daughter to love! Wee!

Question:  Think back to the day you got engaged.  
Remember how you flaunted your ring and floated on a cloud?  
Makes you want to tell him you would marry him all over again, doesn't it?