If You Want More...

If you want more than you've had before, you have to do more than you've done before.

This is an old saying I've heard many times.  Jake brought it up this evening while we were spending some time together and it got me to thinking.  I like this saying for many reasons.  It encourages me to push beyond myself, to set higher goals, to identify areas where I want to improve, and to change behaviors that have become routine.

I hope my thoughts will encourage you.

If you want more from your marriage~ As a young couple Jake and I acknowledge that having an awesome marriage takes hard work.  Often times husbands and wives slip into a routine with each other and let the little things they used to do for one another fall away.  This doesn't work.  Marriage isn't about you and what you can get out of it.  It's about the other person and putting them first. You can't keep on doing what you've been doing and expect better results.  It's time to up your game.

If you want more from your job~ A big part of this one may be the attitude with which you're doing it.  If you go to work with the attitude that it's what's required of you then don't be surprised when you get the same results day after day.  Your job is the opportunity you have every day to provide for yourself and your family. Acknowledge that is it an opportunity and opportunities can be lost just as easily as they're gained.  You can't do the same thing again and again and expect different results. Something has to change.

If you want more from your friendships~ Maintaining friendships is not always easy. People  have emotions and with that they have needs.  If you are finding that you're wanting more out of the friendships in your life, try putting more into them.  People want to feel needed and appreciated.  If you spend more time valuing your friends and letting them know the ways they enrich your life they will in turn grow to share a deeper more meaningful friendship with you.

If you want more from your parenting~ This is an obvious one but also a tough one.  The parent that has to tell their child 8 times to do something before it gets done is probably ready to admit they want more from their efforts at parenting.  The problem is the parent has not consistently followed through so the child knows that they don't have to obey what the parent is saying right away because their parent is going to tell them several more times before any consequence comes.  If you want to be a more effective parent take time learning from other parents how they do it.  Read up on techniques that you want to use with your children and ask questions when you are not seeing the results you desire.  Put more effort into your kids and you will be rewarded greatly with the love that they show you in return.

If you want more from your relationship with God~ My thoughts are far and wide on this one but my passion for it is true.  If you want more than you've had before, you have to do more than you've done before.  If you can think of a time that you were in a more personal, closer, stronger place with God than you are right now it's time to step up. You cannot continue on where you are even if it's a good place, and expect greater rewards. I can not say it enough, if you want more than you've had before you must do more than you've done before.  I know God has a bigger plan for my life than I have for myself.  I desire all that God has for me so each day I need to find ways to do more than I have done the day before.

As we approach this holiday season let me challenge you.  If you want this Thanksgiving and Christmas to be special and more meaningful than any you have had before, now is the time to push beyond yourself, set higher goals, identify areas where you want to improve, and change behaviors that have become routine.  If you want more than you have had before, you must do more than you have done before!

Toddler Busy Bags

I have been making these for my daughter for quite a while so here's the scoop on some of my favorites.

1. Brightly colored pieces of felt cut in various shapes
 I always cut a pair so that she can match them, but there are lots of things she can do with these. 

2. Plastic beads and pipe cleaners
The pipe cleaner is much easier for my little one to string the beads on than a shoelace so she doesn't get frustrated but still works those fine motor skills.

3. Nuts and bolts
Yep, that's it just some nuts and bolts.  Zoe will turn and twist four or five nuts onto one bolt.  I love the concentration she will put into this.

4. Craft pom poms and big tweezers
The open and close motion she has to do with the tweezers is great.

5. Texture balloons
One is filled with flour, one with sugar, and one with couscous.  Zoe likes to squeeze, stretch, and poke the balloons as she explores the different textures within.

6. Bugs

This has been Zoe's all time favorite.  She will line her bugs up, play hide-n-go-seek with her bugs, tell me the color of her bugs, practice bug sounds, sort her bugs by species, and put her bugs down for a nap.  She loves to play with these guys wherever we are.

7. Buttons
Another favorite, we started with just one color but have since added a second.  These are great for sorting.  She will pick out the biggest ones, smallest ones, and smooth ones.  Some days she stacks them in piles other days she lines them up on the floor.

8. Chain links
Yes, Zoe's are shaped like flowers and hearts but the concept is still there.  Link them together and make a chain.

9. Rose Petals and Ribbon
This is the same concept as stringing beads but with petals and ribbon to mix things up just a bit.

10. Animal Cards
This is just a pack of flash cards I picked up at the dollar store but Z likes having it in one of her bags so she can play with it all by herself.

There you have it.  Hope this helps and you come up with some great busy bags of your own.  Really, anything that your child can sit quietly and do by themselves is a win in my book.  It is great for giving me a few minutes to make lunch, sweep the floor, or get dinner started.  There are many times I sit down and do these with Zoe but having things she can do on her own is what our busy bags are all about.

 

 

If a 3 year old can do it, so can I

Let me tell you the story that made my daughters day and in turn melted my heart. 

After nap today we loaded up in the stroller and walked the four blocks over to the park.   This is a pretty normal occurrence for us and like many other days we were meeting some friends there. The kids rode bicycles, played on the slides, chased each other around, swang on the swings, and picked up little bugs.  They spent a couple hours enjoying the fall air and just being kids.  As we were loading up, Zoe's friend Levi remembered he had something special he wanted to do.

Levi knows that Zoe loves to play with balls.  Earlier in the day he had picked out one of his own bouncy balls just for her.  He told his mom that he wanted to bring it with him to the park so he could give it to Zoe.  So as we were getting bikes and strollers situated, Levi dug out his bouncy ball and presented it to my baby girl.  Zoe was all smiles.  A pink and blue bouncy ball in her world is just about the greatest thing ever. For the rest of the afternoon and evening Zoe played with and chatted about Levi and the bouncy ball he gave her.

Levi is 3 years old.  He didn't have to work at it, he simply put the desires of another before his own.  Of course he loves bouncy balls as much as any other 3 year old does, but he wanted to do something special.  He put his friend first.  He didn't give hoping to get something in return, and he certainly didn't care if anyone was watching or what they thought. 

Today Levi is my hero.  He demonstrated generosity, caring, thoughtfulness, and love.  These are all qualities I want people to look at me and see in my life.  How great would every day be if we would all practice such simple acts of kindness?  If a 3 year old can do it, so can I.