When my kids were younger I felt like I had more time to devote to each little step forward. As they grew life seemed to go faster and faster! It felt harder to keep an eye on the big picture of what I wanted for my children when I was just focusing on what had to be done for that day! As a blended family, Country Boy and I knew we were going to have to make strengthening our family bond a priority. Otherwise we were in real danger of acting separately from one another and not as a cohesive group. And at the end of the day, what matters most to us is not the to do list, but the relationships within our family and the character of our children. Here are 10 healthy habits to strengthen your family bond that we found benefited our family. [Read more…]
Calving Season at Hickory Hollow
Big News! It calving season at Hickory Hollow.
After waiting all summer the calves finally began to arrive Monday evening!
Resolving to Think Like a Survivor
Much of America is currently trying to survive overwhelming natural disasters. Two category 4 hurricanes have hit land causing incomprehensible damage and as I’m writing this our country is remembering the attacks of September 11th. How do you think like a survivor? What is the difference between people who seem to fade away under the crush of overwhelming circumstances and those that seem to only grow stronger? This question that has always intrigued me. How do we resolve to think like a survivor? [Read more…]
Create Calm and Cut Chaos in Your Life
While I appreciate to do lists and tend to have one lying around somewhere at all times, being very detailed is something I have resisted. I like to leave a little space for spontaneity. Even the words “stricter schedule” makes me want to rip up my to do list and go gallivanting outside! However, my spontaneity often leads to taking care of the phone calls or texts and forgetting my main goals. Anyone relating? So here are a couple of ideas that I have recently tried and found helpful. Create calm and cut chaos in your life as you consider and implement a few of these ideas. And you know what? You might even have some fun!
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3 Lies Holding You Back from Self Care
Sometimes, we tell ourselves half-truths for so long its hard to distinguish the truth from a lie. Today we are going to examine 3 lies holding you back from self-care. Most of us are good at “treating” ourselves. However, is that really what your soul craves? Are we calling it self-care when all we are doing is reaching for what is most comfortable or familiar? What is it that you really need today? And are lies holding you back from reaching for it? [Read more…]
Should You Limit Teen’s Friend Time?
Parenting is such a balancing act. It starts off with the dilemma whether to schedule or not schedule? Pacifier or no pacifier? And quickly moves on to other burning questions from the toddlers years to the teen years. One big question is should you limit teen’s friend time? And though it is discussed way less online than say how to limit tech time or dealing with teen disrespect, it an issue that will impact many other areas of a kid’s life. Witnessing the various outcomes of limiting or offering unlimited friend time with families and reading a life changing book radically impacted the way I view the question, “Should You Limit Teen’s friend time?” [Read more…]
Overcoming Heartache and Emotional Pain
“Mom, why are you taking a picture of your arm?”, my daughter asked. I was sitting on the couch capturing a photo of the huge bruise on my arm. My arm was black and blue from an unexpected surgery I had gone through the week before. ” It will help me as I recover emotionally to remember that I have gone through this surgery,” I tried to explain. I knew, that soon the bruises would fade, but the emotional pain and heartache I (and my family) had gone through would last much longer. [Read more…]
Signs You Live in the Country
Since laughter really is the best medicine, I have to include some “just for fun” posts. No vibrant life is complete without a healthy does of laughter. It is one of the things I love about my Country Boy. We LOVE to laugh together. And as a city girl transported to the country, there is typically lots to laugh about at my expense! So if you ever wondered about life in the country here are some signs you live in the country. [Read more…]
Coping When Kids Leave Home Part II
Earlier this week I shared Coping When Kids Leave Home Part I. Today, I would like to share the second part of that post, Coping When Kids Leave Home Part II. As I mentioned, it is more than just seeing your kids less. It is a new season. It is a reason to celebrate. You and your child made it through the growing up years. They are ready to leave the nest and start a new season in their life. However, as a parent it is challenging to see our kids move forward without us. How do we let go of one season in our relationship with our child in order to allow a new one to bloom? [Read more…]
Coping when Kids Leave Home Part I
Fall is fast approaching. Fall is a season when many parents say good-bye to their college age children. Last year, my Country Boy and I said good-bye to our second son as he moved out for college. I knew it was coming, but man oh man it didn’t make it any easier. Here are a few things I learned in the process of coping when kids leave home. I hope that you are comforted by the realization that you are not alone as a parent, as you go through this stage. Whether your child is leaving to join the military, moving to start life on their own or to college, it is a new season. [Read more…]
