The Disney film, Finding Nimo, has some sayings that have stuck with me after having watched it all those years ago. I am a lot like Dorie, optimistic; friendly; and I love people (although I guess Dorie loved sea creatures). Do you remember that part of the movie where she keeps saying, “Just keep swimming!” ?

Well, right now I am feeling like I am not swimming all that well.  In fact, I feel like I am barely doggy paddling. Are you feeling like this at all? STOP! Don’t do another thing until you take some “life saving” steps.

Stay Calm I heard this is the first thing you should do when you feel like you are drowning. I haven’t found it to be productive to be rushing around since I discover that after I have done that I am no further along than if I just took a few minutes to stop and quiet myself.

Pray Have you taken the time to say, “Help God!” You’d probably say more, but it’s okay if that is all you can do at the moment. You’d be surprised what a few minutes of prayer can do to your attitude and outlook.

Make a List of all the things you have to do. When I have a dark cloud or a line of them sometimes, I find it is easier for me to dispel that overwhelmed feeling by writing down all I need to accomplish. Write ALL of them down first, in no particular order, just whatever comes to mind. Now, go back and put the ones items that need to be done now at the top of the list and move down until you have all of them in order of due date. If you are better at this than me you can do that as you write them down the first time-saving you extra time. Are there some things you can consolidate or put off for another time? For instance, I wanted to drop off books that I was no longer using to a co-op I was a part of and was trying to think of a way I was going to do that. A friend found out and volunteered to take them for me instead. At first I was thinking that I had to do that since they were my books,but then I realized how ridiculous that was and why not have her do that for me? It freed up my time to get something else accomplished.

Check off as you go! This gives me a great sense of accomplishment and helps keep me on track. I must admit though, I have been known to add to my to-do list after the fact and then cross it off. 🙂

Make time for yourself  There, I said it. Do something just for yourself! Take time to get recharged. It will greatly increase your energy and willingness to get those items checked off your list. I find myself resenting everything I have to do and everyone I serve when I don’t take some time out for myself. I think it is worth the investment for some “me time”. Set the timer for 30 minutes if you are really pressed to get things done. Better still, why not go all out and call a friend to go get a coffee with you?

Guess what? I gotta run! I am off to complete a task that is on my to-do list. Enjoy your day and just keep swimming.

It’s quiet in my house some nights.Too quiet in fact. A couple of weeks ago I was upstairs in our back bedroom grading assignments, writing lesson plans, and printing off papers on our printer downstairs when I heard a noise that sounded like the gears turning for our garage door. In order for that to be true then someone had to be entering our kitchen. I knew that it must be a burglar because Dale wasn’t home and Ian was at work. I crept into the hallway and the first thing that came to my mind was, “Tonight is the night I am going to die.” I was actually quite calm about it and asked the Lord to forgive me of all my sins and to comfort my family. (I kid you not!) The next thing that went through my mind was,”I wonder what they are going to take?”

Then, another thought that came to me (finally!) was calling the police and texting Dale. I also thought about locking myself in the bedroom or hiding in the closet so the burglars wouldn’t find me. I listened a little more and didn’t hear footsteps or any other noises so I just stood quietly allowing my heart rate and breathing to calm down a bit. I listened again, still no noise. My heart rate is still dropping and hope is rising as I think that maybe the noise I heard wasn’t the garage door, but something else.

I decided to slowly but steadily creep, oh so softly, down the stairs to see if there were any intruders. Much to my relief there wasn’t anyone in the house and when I looked around the room my gaze fell upon the “burglar”. It was the wireless printer that I had sent copies of my lessons to just a few minutes earlier! I sat down and laughed until I cried as I thought about how crazy I was.

Fast forward to tonight. Another quiet evening by myself. I made a pumpkin cheesecake and had set the timer on my ipad since I couldn’t find my regular timer. It probably was taken in the “break in”. 🙂 Since it was the first time I was using the timer app I wasn’t quite sure if the alarm would  sound so I went up to the kitchen to check on the cake as it was getting to smell pretty yummy in the house. While I was testing it to see if it was done, I hear this sound and about jump out of my skin as it sounds  like elephants trumpeting. Elephants?! What?! Talk about being scared! Then I realized it must be my ipad trumpeting the alarm to check my cheesecake. Sure enough, that’s what it was! It looks like my ipad timer works and I think I will change the alarm to something more traditional sounding.

Well, I just had to chuckle at my imagination running away with what I thought was occurring here at my house. I was just pondering how I could think such wild thoughts when the Lord reminded me of all the other crazy, fearful thoughts I have about things I have no control over. I have spent a lot of time allowing my thoughts to go toward, “What if?” or  wondering if I said something stupid or hurtful and feeling awful about what I might have done. “Fear not” is the command we have been given by the Lord. So, I am going to continue to put my trust in Him and not be afraid. Take my advice: don’t use noisy electronic devices while you are alone. They may cause unnecessary “alarm”.

I met with a friend today over lunch and we had a great talk about trying to keep everything going without messing up. Remember the saying, “The faster I go, the behinder I get”? (Lewis Carroll). It just seems like when I scurry around (reference to the White Rabbit here- 🙂 ) I get befuddled and don’t get much done. I find myself in a boxing ring with no one but myself as the opponent beating myself up! Are you feeling like that?

Well, I have a comment to make about that… Stop! You don’t do anyone any good in doing that and isn’t that why we need some Divine intervention? You have my permission to hang up your Supermom cape and boots. Spandex is out of style anyway!

Also, my friend brought up a good point. If I didn’t intentionally hurt anyone and I was doing my best I ought to give myself the okay to be imperfect, to be human. That goes for you too! I have found if I give grace to others then I receive a measure of grace as well. I sure have needed it lately as I have had to make lesson plan and schedule changes. The only thing that has really gotten messed up is my pride. That’s not a bad thing either-to be humble.

Find someone to talk to and listen to what you are feeling and trying to accomplish. Are you doing too much? Is there something you can possibly quit doing? No, you can’t quit homeschooling or taking care of your family, silly! I was thinking more along the lines of extra curricular activities such as ballet, sports, art lessons, music lessons, weekly field trips, and that kind of thing. Remember that less is more. All of these activities are good, but limit the number that you are involved in.  If you can consolidate them into one place or day that is a better use of your time. Co-ops or family groups are a great way to accomplish several of these all in one day. You could trade off with a friend too so that you each get a “free day.”

So, no more condemning yourself. Take a critical look at what activities you and the family are doing and ask yourself if there is something you can drop for now and add in the future. You won’t be less of a mom if you can’t do it all and I think you will see that you will be less stressed, less apt to forget something, and more at peace. No condemnation here! 🙂 🙂

is a perfect time if you don’t like crowds. You can walk through the aisles uninterrupted with all the aisle space you want.I know this to be true because I did this very thing myself last week. You see, I haven’t been sleeping all that well and have awakened at 2:30 for a couple of mornings now. Sleep has become a precious commodity (a useful or valuable thing, such as water or time. courtesy of dictionary.com) and since I had all this extra time so early in the morning, I decided it was the perfect time to go to the store to purchase supplies for my science class.

After picking up my supplies I proceeded to the self-checkout and noticed there was a  gentleman who was stationed at the register to oversee purchases in the U-Scan area. I picked up my bags of rulers, candy, and playdoh and proceeded to walk toward the exit. As I was leaving, the U-Scan man said, “Have a nice day, Baby.”

I nearly stopped in my tracks as I tried to decide if I heard him correctly. “What did he just say??” I thought to myself. I don’t know if I have ever been called “Baby”, and certainly not in the past 25 years! 🙂

I could have reacted in several different ways with what had just transpired. 1)Ask him what he just said. 2)Glare at him and go report his comment to the service desk. 3) Choose to think that’s just his way of addressing all women and go back home. 4)Relate my experience to my 8th grade class and you. 5)Laugh about it, realize I will probably never be addressed like that again and show grace to others.

As you have read the choices I bet you guessed that I chose to do all of them. No, I didn’t do all of them, just choices 3-5. So, have you had a similar experience? Did that gentleman wait on you? 🙂 Seriously, what situation have you had an opportunity to extend grace to another person?  I know you have had an opportunity to be annoyed or offended, seems as though they come frequently, don’t they? How about with teaching in your home? We can be kind, gentle and forgiving to our children as they get a ‘tude (attitude) or we can be unkind, harsh, and hold a grudge towards those ungrateful kids we are home schooling. Who has a ‘tude now?

This is just something I have been thinking about. I plan on giving more grace than required as often as I can. It rubs off the rough spots of my heart and helps me to examine my motives. Am I serving out of a heart of love or duty?

Remember to “Have a nice day, Baby.” 😉

I was riding my bike through an adjoining neighborhood and saw a car that I had to take a picture of; I am sure the lady who was staring at me from the next house thought I was from google maps or just a creepy person.

My immediate thought was,” They must think they are a star.” –smile, smile. My next thought was, “They must have a wonderful mama in their lives that told them that.” And my next thought was, “I bet they were home schooled!”  Now, my assumptions could all be wrong here, but I think that it is a definite possibility for each of those thoughts.

I believe home schooling affords us the opportunities to speak words of encouragement and praise into the lives of our children and let them know they are stars. Not only stars, but Super Stars! It doesn’t always mean academics either, although that is the reason why we are in school. It is about being a star shining in areas of love toward, and service to, each other.

I also want to tell you that you are a Super Star! You may not wear the skin-tight Super Woman outfit (I certainly won’t, too scary-looking!) and the cape, but you are shining brilliantly for your family. Keep up the great work and know you have me cheering you on. You know your child(ren) better than anyone else and therefore know what will ignite their passion and encourage them when things get tough. (like verbs, writing papers, tacking hard math problems) You can do it!

“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify the Lord.” Matthew 5:16