REMEMBER GRATITUDE

‘Tis the season of “Thanksgiving”. With all the warmth and good feelings that come with this season-- fall colors, yummy food, family gatherings, cooler temperatures and crackling fireplaces-- perhaps the most significant focus of this season is “THANKFULNESS”. On some level we understand the focus of this season, but if we’re being honest, we may be experiencing some added anxiety as we venture further into November. So let’s take a few minutes to refocus and speak life into this season:

•  Each day I will choose to verbally acknowledge something I am grateful for . . . and nothing is too insignificant to express gratitude for it.

  •  A hot bath

  •  A cup of coffee with some added whip cream on top

  •  A rainy day that waters the ground and calls for crafts, baking or games

  •  Family to gather with and share a meal

  •  Read aloud time with my children

  •  ONE job well done (dishes, laundry, homework, etc.)

  •  A nature walk, filled with fresh, crisp air and pretty changing colors

  •  A friend who understands

•  As I model gratitude, I will affirm my children when they too verbalize what they are grateful for. (This might be a fun sticker chart with a reward.)

•  As we work to complete our school work, we will find ways to weave in acts of gratitude:

  • Write and decorate cards to give to grandparents, new neighbors, or friends (language arts: writing and creating)

  •  Bake a batch of goodies (or a meal) to share . . . just because you care (math and measuring)

  • Serve at a local food bank or other non-profit organization - remembering how grateful we are for all our provisions (community service)

 Even when I feel overwhelmed, I will speak life by giving thanks, knowing that this small act will shift my mindset, and sometimes even my circumstances.

Of course I know that nothing I’ve written is new or profound. Since the beginning of human existence, gratitude has been a choice . . . a perspective. Humans get to choose to be grateful or to grumble. It’s pretty simple, but it’s not easy. When we communicate and act from a grateful perspective, we elevate it to top priority in our lives. It’s easy to get out of the habit of choosing a grateful perspective, and that’s why we get to speak life into our circumstances this time each year.

I pray that you are excited about this season, and your mind is spinning with opportunities to bless others out of a place of gratitude. Search the internet using “random acts of kindness”, and within 5 minutes you’ll be overwhelmed with ideas. Just remember: the goal is to use gratitude to bless YOURSELF, your family, and others. Just one little act and/or word will bless. As you bless others, you will be blessed.

I’m grateful for YOU!

Speaking life, Kris C.

THE GIFT OF READING

It’s October! Time for a new season . . . and who doesn’t love fall? Much of nature reminds us of our lives, and certainly the changing of seasons is a part of life. What changes does the fall season usher in for you and your family?

When I was homeschooling our four children, October was a month that I might describe as “the calm before the storm”. My son played sports year-round, but fall-ball demanded less and resulted in a more relaxed season. Our girls participated in a classical choir, so by November we found ourselves busy with extra practices in preparation for December performances. But October felt settled. After a hot summer in Sacramento, California, we welcomed the cooler days by enjoying hot drinks and baked goods. (My other name was “Mrs. Cookie Monster” . . . no joke! Oh to have a houseful of children so I could bake cookies to my heart’s content.)

During this “settled” month, we enjoyed routine . . . routine that included reading together. In fact, during the years that I homeschooled an “early reader”, instead of mommy reading to her children for naptime, my “early reader” ended up reading to mommy for naptime. I can’t count the number of times I fell asleep as one of my young children read to me. Typically, my nap only lasted for 5-10 min., but the settled pace allowed me to enjoy a catnap nonetheless.

Of course, with a range of ages in the home, older children had their own reading to tackle, but we often enjoyed time for reading aloud altogether. This is a truly magical time for families, but it can also feel burdensome, so let’s consider how to speak life into family read-aloud time.

•  I won’t worry so much about WHAT we are reading together; I’ll just make an effort to regularly read together with my children.

•  I’ll be careful not to rush our reading time together. Instead, I’ll let the children engage in the story reading . . . if they wish to.

•  Together we can enjoy learning new words and meeting new friends.

•  I’ll allow my children to ponder the “whys” in our story:

  • Why did Susie cry?

  •  Why do you like this story? Or not?

• Instead of rushing to finish the book, I’ll model quality reading so my children learn how to read well and so my children enjoy our read aloud time together.

•  WHEN we enter an extra busy season in our lives, I will extend grace to myself if we don’t get to read aloud as often.

  Each family dynamic is unique, so I encourage you to find a time and place that works well for your family to enjoy some read-aloud time: around the dining room table as everyone enjoys mealtime together; on the comfy sectional where each person can sink into the cushions; on mom and dad’s big bed piled high with soft pillows; on a picnic blanket outside enjoying some of those home-baked cookies with milk. Get creative. Your children might even want to plan the setting for read-aloud time. Take pictures to remember the fun, and even the chaos. A little here and a little there; it all adds up to quality family time, experiencing one of the greatest gifts of life: READING!

  Speaking life,
  Kris C. krisspeakslife@gmail.com

WHEN LESS IS MORE

September is here and life is in high gear for all of us. Isn’t it exciting? If we’re being honest, I’m guessing some moments feel exciting and many others already feel overwhelming, and that’s okay. As you begin the new school year, remember to speak life:

•  “This school year is going to be filled with special memories as we all learn together.”

•  “While we work on learning academics, we will remember to model and praise the character qualities (servanthood, kindness, perseverance, etc.) that shape who we are becoming.”

•  “We choose to hold our expectations (for ourselves and our children) loosely, knowing that ultimately we are NOT in charge of everything (or anything really).”

Wow! Those are some amazing and true statements, and they will bring life to your educational journey this school year. Speak it. Believe it.

I am thrilled that you are bravely putting one foot in front of the other, even if that means jumping right into your own version of your favorite comedy show. Perspective matters. Oftentimes, we begin a new school year with great plans and expectations, then 2 hours in (or maybe 2 days in if you’re type A), reality hits. This is not failure. This is real. It’s family life. You can choose to smile, speak life, and carry on.

But what about lesson plans and upcoming exams and keeping up with the smartest family in our co-op? These are real thoughts aren’t they? Perhaps it appears silly as you read them here, but I know these thoughts. I’ve had these thoughts, and I’ve heard them from many of you. At The Write Journey, we have a philosophy that is based on the 80/20 Rule (also known as the Pareto Principle). Here is a quote from our writing handbook, which we use to teach our writing methods:

“The 80/20 Rule is simply an observation that states, ‘most things in life are not distributed evenly.’ Often we find that ‘20% of the input creates 80% of the result’. What this means practically is that ‘you can focus your effort on the 20% that makes a difference, instead of the 80% that doesn’t add much.’” (Quotes by Kalid Azad)

Since we can’t do everything well, we benefit from focusing the majority of our energy and resources on the aspects of life and education that really matter. Perhaps you’re thinking, “Wait. Is this true? My children don’t have to “master” everything?” No, they don’t. In fact, that is an impossible standard and expectation. I want to encourage you to apply some wisdom in light of this truth: begin your school year with an understanding of what YOUR priorities are. This is your 20%.

Detailed lesson plans may (or may not) line up with these priorities. Attending every social activity that your family is invited to may not either. Memorizing the names of all the presidents in order? Earning “A”s on every assignment? Making your bed every morning? You get the idea. We have so many choices. We must choose well. I encourage you to look for your family’s 20% and work towards mastery of that. Weave in the rest as you are able. It may surprise you to know that we do the same when it comes to teaching writing.

I know that you are choosing well because you’re taking your family life and your children’s education seriously. You’re making it a priority. You’re filling your mind with truth and life. This is going to be a great school year for you and your children! Declare it! Choose it!

Let me know if the 80/20 Rule helps you prioritize the choices and opportunities that come your way. Does it empower you to know that your children can’t “master” everything, but mastering 20% will result in success?

If I could, I’d relax in a comfy chair right beside you, and I’d enter into your world, speaking life specifically to your unique situation. But for now, I pray you’ll join me from a distance and send me your thoughts when you have a curious question or serious concern. Connect with me at krispeakslife@gmail.com, and don’t forget to speak life today.

Speaking life, Kris C.