Experience

Experience is the marvelous thing
that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
~F.P. Jones

Thank Goodness for experience! It can enable us to recognize a looming mistake. Sometimes, if you are like me, even though the mistake looms and you see it clearly, you fall back and make the same mistake yet again.

Lucky for us, God Gives Mulligans!

I have to admit, I've used "mulligans" or "do-overs" over and over during my life. Some lessons are harder to learn for the stubborn. I seem to be harder headed than most, so learning takes a bit more experience than just a single, feeble attempt.

Unlike golf - and lucky for me - God's mulligan's are not limited to one. The grace of our Creator has been bought, paid for and delivered long ago. All we need do to receive the grace of a "mulligan" is to ask forgiveness.

Yes, experience is a wonderful thing. By the time we reach a mature age, experience - gives us the wisdom not to repeat mistakes; but it is only God's Grace that gives the eternal forgiveness our hearts unceaseingly seek.

Celebrate The wonderful gift of your salvation this Easter season! Visit the church of your choice, read the heart-rending history of our faith, know God's grace exists for even you and I: the stubborn sinner and finally, sing the hymns of great joy and praise of God's enduring love!

Immunization Safety

Immunization Safety
I've Been Shot! The Final Word on Immunizations
© Connie Newbauer

Make The First Day of School A Healthy One!
Immunization Safety: Is it an oxymoron? Parents pray not each fall as we shuffle obediently, shot records in hand, to perform the yearly ritual of immunization updates.

Every child has had a reaction to childhood vaccines. For the red welt, swelling and pain of a vaccination, knowing parents carry acetaminophen to the doctor's office and administer it before leaving. Unfortunately for other parents, the trip for vaccinations was fatal.

The Little Things

There can be no little things in this world...God mingles with all.
Mme. Schwetchine

Isn't it unfortunate that in our quickly spinning world, we forget to stop and appreciate the little things? If God is indeed, present in all things great and small - they must have some importance; even if it is "just" to give we humble human beings some quiet solitude and beauty in our lives.

What are the little things you could stop and enjoy today?
~A sunrise
~A sunset
~The smell of a baby's tummy
~The quiet, (or not so quiet!) contented hum of your household
~A loving glance of understanding in your spouse's eyes
~A quick hug from your teen before jetting out the door...again
~The gentle kiss of an aging parent

There are many things given to us each day to grace our time on earth. The challenge is to stand still long enough, in silence for us to hear the gentle whispers of guidence from above, or to relish in the touch of a loved one.

Go forth with a grateful heart. God has given us much today - enjoy the little things - so infused with God's light!

Back Pain in Students: The Relationship Between Back Pain and Back Packs

Back Pain in Students
The Relationship Between Back Pain and Back Packs
© Connie Newbauer


Backpacks are popular among students.
Just in time for homework and fall days, I had a conversation with Channing Tassone, MD, an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Orthopaedics at the Medical College of WI!

Is there any validity to the concerns regarding children between the ages of 4 to 12 for the using of backpacks?

Read the entire article at Suite101.com!

Faith

A Little faith will bring your soul to Heaven,
but great faith will bring Heaven to your soul.

I begin each day in silent contemplation of the gifts I've been given, taking concerns to my Lord and girding myself for the day a head praying out loud - "God, stay to the right of me - to the left of me - above me - behind me - on my tongue and in my heart."
It is a reminder of what I expect from myself and more importantly, what God expects of me.
In this time of prayer, the calmness and assurance becomes my little piece of heaven for the day - a glimpse of what can be for eternity.

Academics and Free Play

Recess and Play Dates Vanish as Academic Pressures Increase
© Connie Newbauer
Academics improve with free play breaks. - Photo Credit: www.comstock.com
Should recess be included in the school day? Many school systems say "no" as the pressure for academic excellence increases.

Academics are also positively impacted by free play and should be encouraged in the educational environment as well. Unfortunately, many recesses throughout the country are being cut in favor of pushing the academic envelope – another loss due to adults not understanding the value of free-time in a child’s development. One of the most valuable experiences you can give your child is free interaction with peers.

Please read the rest of the article on Suite101.com!

...On Beauty

Some beauty we see,
some we hear...
but the nicest we feel inside.

Each hour of each day, as we try to reach closer to our Creator through word, thought and deed, light illuminates the dark and hope and happiness fills the space with blessed assurance.

Discipline and Your Child

Discipline and Your Child
Battles of Will, Giving in to Your Child and Effective Discipline Strategies
© Connie Newbauer
Avoid the parenting traps of discipline. - Photo Credit: comstock.com
Do you find yourself in a battle of wills with your child? Do you wait too long to punish? Overdo punishments or use punishments as pay backs? We've got the book for you.

Parent Trap III:

Okay, Okay, Have it Your Way – I Give Up! – Giving Into a Kid Who is More Stubborn Than You

If you choose to get into a battle of wills with your children, make sure of two things: first, that the issue is worth battling about and, second, that you are prepared to stand your ground, even if it takes all day.”

Teach the children the difference between requirements and requests. Some things are not negotiable – such as going to school or running into the street, etc. Some things can be negotiable – such as wearing stripes with plaids, eating their peas, etc.

If it is a requirement, don’t treat it like a request. Never ask a child, “Do you want to go to school?” Instead say, “It is time to go to school, which do you want to wear, your blue shirt or your red shirt?”

When you stand your ground, you bank credibility in your child’s eyes. Credibility that will put you in good stead now – and become even more valuable as your child grows into tweens and teens.

Don’t try to negotiate with a child in the middle of a tantrum. Negotiation can only take place when a child is reasonable. A screaming, argumentative child who is demanding ice cream on the spot, is not reasonable. When your child calms down, negotiate: “You can have some ice cream after you have three bites of everything at dinner.”

Read the entire article at Suite101.com!

How To Stop Childhood Whining

Why Is My Child Whining?
© Connie Newbauer

Find out why young school-aged children whine and how to stop it!

Younger school-aged children have mastered the art of walking, talking and toileting themselves for the most part; but parents have to remember that their young child’s vocabulary may not yet allow him to express himself as fully as he needs.

Remember when, as an infant, your child used to cry to be fed, changed, or while learning a new challenge? Your younger school-aged child will do that as well! What can you do to stop the whining and crying?

Read the Rest of the Article at Why Is My Child Whining!

Middle Age

"One of the hardest decisions to make is when to start middle age."

I guess age is all a matter of perception. Our 17-year-old son came home the other night to tell us at dinner about the coolest teacher at school. It turns out the cool teacher was a 20-something art teacher - of course. Later in the meal, he spoke about an old boring guy who teaches - what else? History. When we asked how old he thought the "old guy" was, he replied,"40 or 45."
My husband and I glanced at each other across the the table, mouths, I'm sure, attractivly ajar.
"What?" We stumbled out...He just went on with his story, too engrossed in self to see his father and I whithering from old age - right before his eyes - at the dinner table.
At the age of 17, the late 40's are ancient. Jacob is sure his history teacher lived through much of it....hmmmm.
Thirty was okay for me, but 31 made me start thinking about getting older. After all, this is the age your OB reminds you that your eggs have now shifted into old age and pregnancy can be chancier.
By 40, I was beginning to staart to enjoy the respect given to a maturing woman and starting to feel more like "myself."
50 is around the corner and I've found the me I had looked for so intently in the 60's. Why didn't anyone tell my generation that you found yourself in your 50's?
Life is fabulous for me right now - I have done as good of job as I can at my marriage, raising my children and being a good person. I can definitely tell you what I like and don't like, what my political views are and how to bake a kickn' turkey for the holidays. What I can't tell you is where I last put my car keys.
It doesn't matter though. My husband and I are starting to travel, have grandchildren and enjoy getting to know each other "post children." It is like dating again!
I can't tell you where middle age is - but I can tell you I haven't reached that point yet!

Flattery

Flattery is something nice someone tells you about yourself that you wish were true.

Flattery makes me a little peeved at the speaker - it makes everything else they say suspect, even though I sometimes wished it were true.

Compliments, on the other hand, embarrass me. Psychologists would probably say I don't think I deserve it, but I'm not sure that theory is necessarily true. The Bible tells us to pray "in a closet" and an old adage tells you that if you do something good, (and I'm paraphrasing here), and you 'advertise' it, it negates what you've done.
I feel the same way about compliments. I think it makes me uneasy - as if someone speaking about a good quality outloud will make it vanish - or somehow diminish that which I can be proud of. I've struggled long and hard to be able to accept compliments graciously. I still sometimes fail, due to a loss of words and surprise.
This is not, from my observation, a personality trait uncommon to Christians.
Someday, with age and by grace, I will be able to gratefully accept that which is given freely out of love.

Love of Life

Love of Life as an adventure Leads to God

Use this morning to take a deep breath, take stock of all you've been given, clear your mind and step out into the world with a grateful heart - and open mind -
freeing yourself to experience life as God wants you too.
Today, you can do anything, be anything, experience anything you wish.
Today, you can take the path of gratefulness straight to our Creator's door.

Creative Idleness

Rest is not idleness
and to dream is not a waste of time.
~Indian Proverb

Coming from the background I do, it is hard not to feel guilty when not in perpetual motion. As I've found through years of trying to 1.)Stay perpetually busy and 2.)Retain my sense of creativity, these two things are not mutually agreeable.
Instead, I now understand that my will and ability to take care of myself - all of myself - spiritually and physically directly impact and quality of my work as an artist.
Finding "resting time" though is not always an easy thing to do when raising a family, working, volunteering,etc. So...how do you feed your soul?
Long walks outside in the fresh air, knitting, reading something absolutely frivolous and fun, journaling, going to the gym...the list is absolutely endless.
My favorite way to disengage for a moment are unexpected - when a beam of sunshine shoots itself over your shoulder and you can't help but turn your face, eyes closed, towards the warmth. At these times, I sometimes feel as if God is reaching down from the heavens and imprinting himself in my mind and on my soul.
The gift of artistry is given by God,nourished by God and sustained in those precious moments we take to stop and hear his sweet, still voice.