Pay Attention!

Pay attention to your mother, pay attention to your father, pay attention!

Take heed to what you are being taught and learn something. 

This week as the news came in telling us to prepare for the worst hurricane in years; I was thinking about my mom and what she would do in preparation for a storm. My daughter suggested we get more water just in case.  I remembered how my mother would fill pots with water and anything she could find.  I thought I would do the same.  She always found a way to get us through.  

I was paying attention to my mother and how she did things to keep the home running and take care of her family.  We learned how to make substitutes for what we lacked.

I also thought about washing the laundry just in case the power goes off.  Best to have clean clothes in the event things got really bad and we would be without electricity for days. I picked up dry goods and batteries, candles and of course water. Some of the preparations were common sense, some were not.  

Although we had none of the technology we have today, I did learn some of the survival skills that would get us through given the circumstances.  This time I charged my laptop so that if the lights went out I could write and charge my phone at the same time.  The lights did eventually go out and we were prepared.

Why pay attention?  Others are depending on you…

Your family: care for them, teach them, be a mentor, discipline and love them, 

plan for the future

Your homes: clean it, organize it, and make it a place of safe refuge

Your job: be on time, do your best

Your car:  take care of it, clean it and maintain it

Your friends:  cultivate the relationship, spend time with them, be a friend

Yourself:  take care of your mind and body, be good to yourself

Why pay attention?  Paying attention leads to preparation; so that when the storms of life come, you’ll be prepared for them. 

Building Memories

I remember as a young woman still living at home, my sisters and I would make a large pot of coffee almost every night, we would sit with our espressos, and talk about everything. This is a warm memory for me.  I have tried to build warm memories for my children.  Ours is built on hot chocolate and toast with “butter drippings” as my daughter would always say. 

I have a niece who reminds me of the fond memories she used to have at our home. In the cold winter months we would sit in front of the fireplace, playing board games and laughing, until we fell asleep. She still talks about those times. Those are her warm memories.  She is all grown up now with a baby of her own and making some of her own memories.  Create an atmosphere for conversations that develops trust. This is the bridge that builds a future which links the past.

I remember it as though it was yesterday.  Yesterday is gone forever.  Are you building warm memories that will link your family to the past?  It’s important to build fond memories that they can recall with their own children.  Build some memories for a happy childhood.  Life isn’t perfect, but we can create some warm fuzzy feelings that will last us a lifetime.  What are you building?

Whose chore is it anyway?

His chores, my chores…As a married couple there are things that simply need to be done around the house.

You have many tasks such as:

• ·   Food shopping
• ·   Stops to the dry cleaner
• ·   Mowing the lawn
• ·   Trimming the hedges
• ·   Cleaning the house
• ·   Paying the bills
• ·   Etc.

The list goes on and on.  How do couples manage these chores?  I believe we get there through our natural and gifted abilities.  We did not sit down and say you do this and I’ll do that.  Most women find their niche by how they were trained at home.

I know for myself, I like things to be in order, so naturally I lean toward cleaning the house.  My husband on the other hand enjoys yard work. He says it is his way to relax.  I know people who cook or bake to relax.  

My point is; it doesn’t matter who has taken the lead to do what.  The important thing is that it gets done and when the other person can’t get the task done you step in and do it.  Be sensitive to what is going on around you.  Maybe your spouse has had a hard week, step up to the plate and do what needs to be done with a smile.   This is one way to show your love for each other.  I know my husband has done it for me many times.   

Guess what, this week I trimmed the hedges!

Love notes!

                                     

Today I want to encourage you to write a love note to a friend or family member.  I was reminded this past weekend of how important it is to tell someone that you are thinking of them and that they are an important part of your life.  

This coming week marks my mother’s 80^th Birthday.  In honor of her day, each family member was asked to write something special about her.  My youngest daughter wrote a beautiful piece honoring her grandmother.   

I want to encourage you too, if you haven’t done so already to write a special note to someone today.  Maybe there are people who you’ve lost touch with - go ahead make their day!   Writing has become a lost art.  Take time to let someone know that you are thinking of them today.  

The beautiful thing about the written word is that you can read it over and over again. You don’t have to be a great writer, just write a note to say you’ve been thinking of them.  You’ll be amazed at the impact it will have on the recipient.   

I love sending notes and do it often. Don’t be delayed, do it today!

Photo courtesy: www.weheartit.com