Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Lessons from Eli

August 23, 2011 by Karen

He came home on May 7th only four pounds and completely cute.  Immediately he stole our hearts.  Little did I know that over the next few months, Eli, the little brown dog, had a few lessons for our family.

Being content – Eli likes to chew on things and his owners’ toes and fingers.  While the cuteness factor helped him not get sent back, the chewing was hurtful and annoying.  So, we acquired several of what were touted to be “puppy’s favorite” toys.  There were balls, and squeaky toys, a few old socks.  With all of these choices surrounding him, Eli still chose to steal our shoes, or just walk up and chomp on our toes.  With all those puppy toys, chosen for him and completely right for him, he was not content.  He wanted something else.  He wanted things not right for him and even would get him in trouble.

How many times do you find yourself in Eli’s position?  Look around, do you have your “favorites”?  Do you have what you need to satisfy your desire to chew?   Do you find yourself ignoring that which has been provided to fulfill your needs, for that which only leads to trouble?

We are all guilty of being discontent.  We don’t just relax in warmth of having what we need and if I had to guess, most of what we want.

Guilty and running – not long after we brought Eli home he began to learn right and wrong.  Remember the chewing need?  Eli would be doing great, lying on the floor chewing on his bone, and then without rhyme or reason he would get up grab a shoe and RUN!  Why run if he didn’t know he was guilty?  His demeanor changed as he crawled under the bed.  Clutching the shoe with all he had, Eli would not release or come out.

How many times when you have done something wrong have you run from those who care enough to not want you to hurt yourself or do something wrong?  Maybe you find yourself hiding and hoping those who want to help you do something more positive pass by.

We didn’t just pass by, we knew it was important for Eli to learn not to chew on shoes, so we crawled under the bed with him and grabbed the shoe he shouldn’t have.  After crawling back out and calling Eli, he gladly followed.  Most of the time this exchange resulted in our finding a treat and a toy to redirect his behavior.

Eli continues to teach us lessons.  In each of these scenarios, Eli was given the opportunity to learn something new, turn a negative into a positive, and be with those who love him most.

Are Eli’s lessons your lesson?

All the best,

KK

Posted in Faith, Home life, Personal | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

What I did on my summer “vacation”

August 22, 2011 by Karen

Before the nice people in the unemployment offices read this and think I wasn’t looking for a job as part of the last four months, let me assure that it was at the top of the list every day.  Our summer days started with my rising to find on average four to six emails had been delivered to the email box dedicated only to the job hunt.  While the puppy ate breakfast and Cole slept in, I read and responded to the most appropriate opportunities.  After all efforts of application and follow-up were exhausted, there were various household chores that needed attention.  Stay with me, this “vacation” gets better.  I bore you with the standard schedule to present the over-arching theme of the summer (or so I thought) was to find a job.  There was something far greater to seek and embrace.

Time; a season with Cole that I would have never had; morsels of priceless moments that included impromptu water gun fights, silly singing in the car, afternoons spent at the swimming pool, and conversations that I will cherish for the rest of my days.

We worked together on household chores and I taught him to mow the lawn.  We took a few minutes to one night to look outat the full moon.  Another night we sat on the deck and looked at the stars.  He showed me the big dipper and the little dipper. We baked our favorite Christmas cookies and pressed them into non-Christmas shapes.  We volunteered at Lifebridge, sorting clothing and school supplies for those in need.  How wonderful to see Cole’s enthusiasm for helping others.  I had time to not worry about bed times and chores I only had evenings to complete.  With a slower pace, it seemed our time was less hectic and more meaningful.

This was the summer before Cole started middle school.  Yes, middle school, these are said to be three clumsy awkward and wonderful years a parent never considers when they first hold that sweet smelling infant.  From those who have gone before me on this parenting journey, I have been warned; but I choose to not fret.  Over the last four months, we have had these golden moments of connection that further solidified a relationship that began long before his birth.

We are over a week into the school year and have had few bumps.  The bumps will come, but when they do, I will be ready to listen first and then respond.  What I learned this summer is that the response Cole needs may be with words of wisdom, or just asking gentle questions to help him further figure out his own solution. Either way, I get to be there for Cole.

It has always been my goal as a parent to raise Cole to be a man of faith, who at the age of 18 will go off to college and his adult life.  At that point my relationship with him will change but will be soundly rooted in many hours of prayer and time well spent with him.

I wondered why God allowed this season of my life, if only for the memories the past few months gave Cole and me, I am grateful.  A job will come and I will work full time again, but I will do it with a new perspective on balancing family and work.  I will remember this pace and practice gearing down to take in moments that last a short time, but are treasured
for a lifetime.

How was your summer vacation?

All the best,

KK

Posted in Moms, Parenting, Relationships, Women | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

Didn’t Make the Couponing A-Team

June 5, 2011 by Karen

When I was growing up (40ish years ago), coupons were clipped from the Sunday or Wednesday Courier Journal (or Louisville Times, depending on how far back you want to go).  Women would make their grocery list based on the family needs and the coupons they had.  Clutching their list and their coupons they set their course for the grocery store. Depending on how savvy a shopper they were, they might wait for double coupon day; but that was about as extreme as it got.

Now I’m the mom going to the grocery and would love to save a little on the bill, but somehow it just doesn’t work for me.  I’ve tried – couponing has become something of a sport and the rules keep changing.  First of all, there are coupons in the paper, but who wants to buy 5 of something to save .25 cents?  Recently though, a friend tried to explain to me how you take those kind of coupons, save them for a day when the item is on special and you go on double coupon day.  WAY TOO MANY THINGS TO REMEMBER, while trying to use the coupon before it expires.

Oh, that’s the other thing, the expiration date.  I can promise you any coupon I attempt to use, expired the day before.  While my couponing friends will tell me that the date doesn’t matter many stores will take them, I can also promise you the cashier in my line will have just graduated from cashier school and will read every coupon and find the one that is expired.  “No exceptions, lady.”

The sport of couponing takes on new dimensions with the likes of coupon websites like, www.livingsocial.com, www.groupon.com, www.couponing101.com, and www.thekrazycouponlady.com.  When I share with my couponing friends an item I’m looking for a coupon or good deal on they immediately send me to these sites or sites like www.slickdeals.com, www.skoreit.com or www.Deals2buy.com.  Ok I think, I’ll play, millions of people are simply jumping on-line, finding the deal, printing the coupon or finding the site and saving money.  I tried this recently as puppy food was added to our grocery list.  Here is how my adventure went, I Googled “coupons for Science Diet puppy food”.  Found the site that promised coupons and “big savings”.  From that link I had to register my email address, download some kind of toolbar, and go to my email to activate the account, go back to the site and print the coupon.  The process took the better part of 20 minutes, but the coupon promised was several dollars in savings so it would be worth it until…I printed the coupon that was not for puppy food, it was for the lite version of Science Diet.  I have a puppy, not an old fat dog. UUUGGGHHH!

Although I agree with the preface that you can save money and have what you need when you need it,  I really don’t have the need to become an extreme coupon player.  But I would like to be able to just save a little money here or there.  I am open-minded enough to take suggestions, but I am not going to create a binder of coupons that I have to review and rotate based on expiration dates.

Can I join the coupon-using team?  I will settle for second-string…

All the
best,

KK

Posted in Home life, Moms, Shopping, Women | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment »

Oh please, parents take responsibility

May 19, 2011 by Karen

This link (http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/05/18/health-experts-attack-mcdonalds-but-can-they-bite-into-its-bot/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk2%7C64222) is to an article regarding McDonald’s and the health risks on children who eat their food.   Seriously, how many people can we blame for our own bad habits and laziness.  It should not come as any surprise to a customer at McDonald’s that their foods are high in fats, sodium and calories.  If children aren’t eating healthy, it is because of the choices their parents are making.  It’s not McDonald’s fault.  They are merely the biggest of their kind.  Let me challenge you to look at the nutritional value of frozen dinners,or other restaurants.

These health experts are accusing McDonald’s of predatory marketing.  They could line up the companies who market to children.  Just watch cable networks for kids.  It is the parents’ responsibility to be the filter for what children see or hear and what is good for them and healthy.  Besides, aren’t we supposed to be teaching our children to think for themselves?

It is the parents’ responsibility to teach their children how to eat foods that will build them up and help keep them healthy.  No child has suggested going out for fast food without some adult at some point taking them there.

Here’s your slack, sometimes life dictates food in a hurry.  If it happens too often, I would ask who is planning your time?  When you do drive through, what’s wrong with a salad or baked potato?

It is time to take responsibility for our actions, health choices and the children in our lives.  We are continually learning about the foods we eat, what’s good for us and what isn’t.  Make the good choice and teach your children to do the same.

Posted in Home life, Parenting, Reality | 1 Comment »

Prom Night for the Adults

May 9, 2011 by Karen

Each spring in high schools across America the guys are nervous that she will say “no” and the girls are scared that they won’t get asked.  That probably isn’t so much the case for adults, but all of the other elements of prom go into preparing for the black-tie galas on Derby eve in Louisville.  It’s all about the dress, shoes, hair and make-up for the ladies and the men it’s about the tux and having a pretty girl on their arm.  Many of the Derby eve balls have celebrities in attendance.  In my opinion, celebrities are about as exciting as the high school football star or the head cheerleader at the prom.

We attended a ball this year.  For us, it was a night to get dressed up and enjoy an evening out. We danced a slow dance gazing into each other’s eyes and it didn’t matter that Grammy winner, Linda Davis, was the one singing to us.  It was just us.

Attending the ball made for some fun people watching; especially seeing those who were star-struck by the celebrities; following close behind them to catch them for a quick photo or autograph.  We did get one celebrity photo, primarily because she had been here before and was a favorite of my brothers.

The other people-watching joy was watching those not accustomed to being in a tux or an evening gown and high heels. Like the young ladies going to the prom in their first pair of strappy shoes, these women walked awkwardly on their toes (instead of relaxing and walking heel toe heel toe) and too early in the evening some thought it would be cute to take their shoes off.  But what struck me as saddest was what women consider to be appropriate attire for a black-tie evening.  There was opportunity for footage for Clinton and Stacey to review (What Not To Wear hosts).  Dresses were not right for their frame, or cut ridiculously too low (in the front or back).  Some were short colorful dresses and others were long.  An evening gown should have a classic style and not be too flashy.  Oh, and some women chose to wear hats. Seriously, a hat to a ball?

I realize that for most of us, going to a black-tie event may only come once a year if that often.  But let me encourage you that when the opportunity comes, please take a trip to the internet or the public library and brush up on appropriate attire.  Then check in with Clinton and Stacey on the TLC site for tips on proper fitting. Guys, sorry, but there is only so much you can do with a tux that who knows how many others have worn.

Not every woman is going to be (or needs to be) the Scarlett O’Hara at the ball.  The most important part is that you are dressed appropriately, feel pretty and have your very own Rhett (or love of your life) on your arm.

Just a thought, what do you think?

KK

Posted in Relationships, Traditions, Whimsy | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

Is it Confidence or Arrogance?

April 18, 2011 by Karen

What is the difference between being confident and being arrogant?  Is it attitude or spirit?

Confidence by definition is full trust; belief in the reliability of a person or thing.  Confidence either comes from something inside or something outside us.  To be confident is having strong belief or full assurance.   Where does the ability to be confident come from?

Confidence is built from many blocks of successes we have in our lives.  A child learning to walk starts out wobbly and unsure, but with every successful step forward, the child stands straighter.   The same holds true for each of our successes in life and career.  As a parent, each time we handle something well with our child, our confidence builds.  In our career, with each successful position or project our confidence builds and we move forward.

Arrogance by definition is a feeling of superiority or an offensive exhibition of it; presumptuous or overbearing conduct, statements, resulting from such a feeling.   Like confidence, arrogance comes from within but the results can be much different.  To be arrogant we are showing pretensions and superiority.  There is little room for any of us to come across better than the next.  Nobody knows everything, and everybody makes mistakes.  True character is shown in how we handle those mistakes.

Let me encourage you to be confident that you will make mistakes.  But don’t let those mistakes be masked by an arrogant spirit.  Be real and if others don’t understand, then they may have an arrogance issue.

Let me also encourage you to be confident in the gifts and talents you have.  Use them to show others they can be confident in you.

What do you think?

All the best,

KK

Posted in Encouragement, Goals, Life | Tagged | 2 Comments »

Ssshhh, listen

January 25, 2011 by Karen

It’s obvious to me that everything happens for a reason; especially for the believer.  Sometimes we don’t know the reason. But knowing our heavenly father and the order He created, I find it hard to think that believers who are really focused on Him are just ping-ponging through this world.

I think we are completely challenged by the distractions in life and often miss His still small voice.  We are too busy doing and checking (voicemail, email, texts, etc.). We are distracted and don’t always hear God’s leading.  James 1:19 says that we should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…and verse 22 continues this theme, “do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.”

While this passage gives us the push to do what the word says, the first thing it tells us is to be quick to listen.  What would happen if we spent as much time or more after we talk to God just listening, truly be still and listen for the voice of our Creator?  What would He say to you?

KK

Posted in Faith, Life | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 551 other followers