Summer is almost here in the Midwest! My husband and children planted flowers, mulched and mowed Sunday making the yard around our farmhouse lovely. Now the view out my kitchen window is even more calming and beautiful. It made me think about those things in our lives that rejuvenate and allow us to relax and refuel. I thought it would be fun to put together a list of 9 soothing gifts for a stressed or weary friend.
I am blessed to have many wonderful gift givers in my life. When I feel stressed due to some big adventure we are in the middle of or weary due to needing to recover physically, inevitably a gift shows up. I love gifts! Love to give them and receive them. I especially enjoy sending a gift in the mail anticipating a friends receiving it! So what are some great soothing gifts for a stressed or weary friend. What gift will encourage your friend to take a breathe, find a minute for themselves, or gain some calming perspective? [Read more…]
The woman sitting across from me was living in crisis mode. Fifteen years ago, I was just starting out as a court and family advocate. Part of the job I loved was talking with the clients that came into our agency. After hearing the woman in my office speak for close to half an hour, I was greatly concerned. She was in a very vulnerable position. Her current relationship was abusive. And to make matters worse she seemed trapped in crisis mode. 
By nature, many of us struggle to find contentment. We tend to look backward living in our memories. Or we want to rush forward to the next stage. Finding contentment and blooming where you are planted is pivotal to appreciating today, practicing gratitude and growing where we are. 
From my years working with teens, I have noticed that when a teen connects with their interests they are more focused on their future. They tend to be more motivated, as they press forward and over obstacles to obtain their goals. But how do we help our teen find their passion and make time in their schedule for career development? Here are 6 simple activities to help teens discover their passion and purpose! 
When I first saw the book, 
ave you ever had that feeling that something is off, but you are not sure what? For those of you who may not know, the picture above is of a round bale feeder. The cattle are SUPPOSED to stand on the outside and reach in with their necks to feed. This heifer decided to just stand inside the feeder! Not sure how she managed that! It did remind me of a job I had years ago where everything felt off, and how I was faced with finding the right job.
You never imagined that this would happen to YOU. You never envisioned your life as a single parent, a young widow, a victim of domestic violence or a person with a life threatening disease. Handling unexpected changes in life can be overwhelming.
