Focus on the Positive #11

My goodness! It's harder than I expected to get back into helpful habits! I had this sign on my door for at least two months:
BOM stands for Block of the Month.

 I've been doing a terrible job of updating info in our binder at Minnesota Quilters. I haven't been spending much time in my studio since Titus came into our lives. (Yeah, blame the puppy!)

After looking at it for so long and just feeling bad, I decided to move on. Since I want to spend time in my studio and get some sewing done, I decided to make my focus be something I truly wanted to do instead of something I thought I ought to do.

What a difference that makes!

I put this on my board just over a week ago:

Although I only got into my studio on three out of seven days, I spent enough time to experience a sense of accomplishment. Hooray!

The 2017 Mystery Quilt was a huge deal for me last year, but I couldn't keep up when May hit with all its end-of-the-year busy-ness. I did some catching up in October when I spent a week at the lake, but I was stalled since then.

I finished the July clue! I cut out the August pieces. I sewed 36 half-square triangles. Woohoo! It feels good to focus on accomplishments and not be stalled on a "should" goal.

Ten Commandments for Parenting School-age Children

These were from a sermon a few years ago. I'm continuing to clear my clutter and I want to save these notes. Psalm 127 and Proverbs 22:6 were referenced. "Don't underestimate the value of the home or of your legacy."

1. Parents are the primary ones responsible for their children's spiritual development.

2. Children are unique and should not be compared to others. (We often preach diversity but practice conformity.)

3. Kids need to *give* their best, not *be* the best.

4. Remember, it's *your* job to know what they're learning and *when* they're ready to learn.

5. Your kids are kids. Fun and laughter are important.

6. It's your job to know your kids' friends.

7. You can't control their decisions.

8. Your kids need balance. (Help them learn to manage time and priorities.)

9. Your second greatest job is to encourage your kids. (Ephesians 6:1-4)

10. You teach what you know but reproduce who you are. Obey the Word. Live out your faith.

Developing Responsibility in Children

I'm cleaning out more pieces of paper. This one was in my teaching files, but it seems to be much more of a parenting tool to me! Ugh - I started with he/she, him/her, etc. and changed it to all masculine pronouns. Read it with your own precious child in mind!

1. Never do for a child what he can do for himself.
2. Encourage a child's first attempts to help you or to do things for himself. (Remember, a child who is learning will not do the task as well as you can.)
3. Give a child credit for trying to help you out.
4. Give plenty of time to learn.
5. Don't criticize or make fun of poor results. Encourage him to try again and carefully steer him toward a better way.
6. When a child is ready for larger responsibilities, let him take them on.
7. Let a child know you trust and have confidence in him.
8. Praise for efforts as well as performance.
9. Let your child make mistakes without feeling guilty.
10. Be sure the child knows that his help helps the whole family.
11. Admit your own mistakes when you make them.
12. Don't demand more of a child than he can give.

Remember, "A child needs encouragement as a plant needs water and sunshine."

I'm not sure where this originated, but it also reminds me of some of the sociology things my mom was so fond of.

Wow! Health Care Changes

One of my main activities lately has been sorting through and recycling old paperwork - my teaching files, my father-in-laws many printed out emails, and my dad's old papers. Most of it goes into recycling, some gets shredded, and some makes me stop and laugh.

I broke my arm when I was a kid. Twice, actually. One wrist when I was ice skating and the other a year later when I was roller skating. (I am *not* a coordinated, athletic individual.) I found the health insurance paperwork from my second trip to the ER. Take a look!

Do you see that?!?! The *total* charges for the cast, x-ray, and doctor services came to $46.10!

Was this normal in 1977? I was ten years old, so I'm sure the cost of my pain wasn't on my radar at all.

I wonder how much we paid for our kids' broken arms back in the 1990s . . . I'm guessing it was a bit more than this!

I had to keep this info here since I'm determined to get rid of pieces of paper that are cluttering up my life . . . but I was amazed to see these.

I welcome any comments on this post!

 

 

 

Also, I see that they spelled my name wrong! It's Jeanne . . . not Jean. How did I not notice that seven years ago when I first posted this? (10.9.17 vs 1.28.24)

Lower BP

This is actually one of my random "get rid of scraps of paper" entries. . . but I took some suggestions on lowering your blood pressure and personalized them. I need to use these!
1. Get more sun.
2. Spend time with animals (go to the zoo).
3. Help others (worry about self less).
4. Meditate (even at work).
5. Hug Louie more.
6. Sing and dance.
7. Strength exercises.

#2 is funny - now that we have a puppy again, I feel as though I'm spending *lots* of time with an animal!
#4 amuses me . . . now that I've quit my job
I love doing #5 and try to hug him often!

Last time I donated blood, my BP was very good. I must be doing something right!

Siblings

I am so glad that I have Tom, Ann, and Louise for siblings! I love them (and go crazy with them sometimes). I'm glad we've shared so much of our lives and stories with one another.

We went to the lawyer's office on Thursday, April 13 to take care of some of the last (I hope) paperwork in regard to my parents' estate. Then we went out to dinner at the Timberlodge Steak House. After dinner, we went for a walk in Old Town (at Southtown). Louise, Tom, and I had pretty specific memories about hanging out there as teenagers. Ann, not so much. There was an area for the Easter bunny and we took some photos. Fun!

 

Harry Potter / J.K. Rowling Wisdom

I'm re-reading the Harry Potter books (as a de-stress mechanism) and I really want to "hang on" to this quotation from Chamber of Secrets:

It is our choices, Harry , that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." - Dumbledore

Our choices. More than our abilities. Choose wisely.



When Harry told Dumbledore that he thought it was his father who had created the Patronus and sent it across the lake to save him and Sirius Black, he said, "It was stupid, thinking it was him, . . I mean, I knew he was dead."
"You think the dead we loved ever truly leave us? You think that we don't recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble?"

I've been missing my mom a lot lately, and struggling with some of life's issues. This scene made me cry.

(above written on 4.7.17 / below on 5.16.17)

Order of the Phoenix  - page 495 when Harry is determined to head back to the Dursleys, since he believes he is responsible for attacking Arthur Weasley as the snake he saw / was in his dream. The painting of Phineas Nigellus passes on the message from Dumbledore to stay and wait. Harry blows up.
"Stay there? That's all anyone could tell me after I got attacked by those dementors too! Just stay put while the grown-ups sort it out, Harry! We won't bother telling you anything, though, because your tiny little brain might not be able to cope with it!"
"You know," said Phineas Nigellus, even more loudly than Harry, "this is precisely why I loathed being a teacher! Young people are so infernally convinced that they are absolutely right about everything."

Although I certainly do not loathe being a teacher, sometimes students can be maddening.

page 823, after the battle in the Ministry of Magic, Harry is back in Dumbledore's study.
"I know how you are feeling, Harry," said Dumbledore very quietly.
"No, you don't," said Harry, and his voice was suddenly loud and strong. White-hot anger leapt inside him. Dumbledore knew nothing about his feelings.
"You see, Dumbledore?" said Phineas Nigellus slyly. "Never try to understand the students. They hate it. They would much rather be tragically misunderstood, wallow in self-pity, stew in their own - "
"That's enough, Phineas," said Dumbledore.

For some reason, I just really liked Phineas this time around . . .

(below added 5.26.17)
The Deathly Hallows, page 697:
"Every second he breathed, the smell of the grass, the cool air on his face, was so precious: To think that people had years and years, time to waste, so much time it dragged, and he was clinging to each second." Yes. Life is precious and can be gone so quickly. 

(adding again - 11.14.17)
From Sorcerer's Stone:
 “To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.” - Dumbledore to Harry when they talk about the stone's destruction and what that will mean for Nicholas Flamel and his wife.