Thursday, May 30, 2013

I Declare a New Season in Our House

Do you ever feel a new season beginning?  I think I sense that right now for my family.  School is out.  Employment is steady.  We're part of a church we love.  The dust and noise of the last four years is beginning to settle.  In the last year, Sara and I have both gained weight and gotten out of the healthy habits we both love.  On top of all the stuff I listed above, she and I started a 21-day fast together yesterday and it just feels significant.  I mean really significant.  I think we're in the process of breaking some nasty cycles - cycles of fear, cycles of regret, cycles of treating food like a god, cycles of impatience with our kids . . . I'm sure there are more.  I feel a new season and I'm so very thankful for it this morning.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Friends, Boundaries & Gossip

We had a really good talk with our boys last night - mostly Colin and Liam - about friends.  We talked about how friends influence your attitude, how friends need to follow our house rules, how limits on time with the same person is a good thing and probably a few other things.

I wasn't surprised that my boys listened.  What surprised me a little was the level of freedom, and even relief, they seemed to feel when they realized that they were free (and even mandated) to confront their friends on poor and wrong behavior.  They seemed to feel even more empowered when I told them that they could bring the discussion or issue to me if they had not been able to figure it out on their own.  Once they felt free to talk about issues with their friends, we got a good teaching moment(s) about gossip and they even began to understand that gossip wrong, hurtful and never productive.

I LOVE when I can have conversations with my kids that are real.  Last night was a win . . . even if for no one else, for me.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Memorial Day

This was the first Memorial Day where I actually reflected on what it all means.  The picture below helped get me started last week.  I'm also watching Ken Burns' "The War" on Netflix lately.  There have been a lot of good men and women, with just as much to lose as me - some even more, who have give up their lives or there spouse or a parent or a child for the sake of defending our nation and our freedom.  I'm so grateful for all they've done.