Thoughts of the Day
My life has qualified me as "experienced" on such topics as Army life, parenting, mental health, loss and grief, multi-tasking, and adapting to all things new (good, bad, or indifferent). I will share my thoughts on these topics and hopefully you will find some calm in the chaos knowing that others have been where you are.
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What in the World is this Wonderfully Weird Weather?
I have never loved summer the way I have loved it this year. Usually I am good and ready for the autumn temperatures to arrive, but right now I am embracing every last drop of summertime that the planet is willing to offer me. We are expecting a high today of 83˚F (28.3˚C) which is extraordinary for where I live. Last year at this time, Becca and A.J. visited from North Carolina and this is how we were dressed. It was cold, y’all. I can’t remember the exact temperature, but I’ pretty sure it was in the 50’s. I guess fall is just coming a little late this year because…
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An End of Summer Epiphany: My Walls, My Door, My Rules
Last weekend, I had a most wonderful lunch date with a fascinating new friend. We dined al fresco on the bay and it was a lovely time filled with great conversation and delicious food on a beautiful late summer afternoon. We shared all sorts of stories and personal experiences while we dined, happy and sad and all the in-betweens. Nothing in our conversation led immediately to this life changing epiphany, but I have found that when you engage in deep and meaningful conversations with new people who have new perspectives, it can sometimes unlock ideas and concepts inside your own brain that you maybe didn’t have access to before. As…
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The Good Buy/Good-Bye Book: Denim Skirts & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up On the Edge #670
Welcome to The Good Buy/Good-Bye Book! The Good Buy/Good-Bye Book is a monthly series hosted by Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style and myself. Every month, we invite you to share a photo or two of your Good (or Bad) Buy items that fit the stated theme. We ask that you also provide a short description explaining if the item you are sharing was a Good Buy or one that you will be saying Good-Bye to (formerly known as Bad Buys). Nancy and I will both publish a round up post featuring all of the submissions on the 15th of each month. Anyone who would like to participate and be featured can send us their photos…
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7 Things to Include in a Foster Child’s Bedroom
If you are a foster parent or are considering becoming one, there are some basic necessities that you will want to include when furnishing a bedroom for your foster child. Preparing a bedroom for a child or children whom you have never met can be rather tricky. But giving your foster children their own space will help them feel at home, offer them safety and stability, and give them a little privacy which is incredibly important when settling into a new home and family. While you might have to make some changes based on the age and personal tastes of the child, this list provides you with 7 things to…
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10 on the 10th: July 2023-Summertime Would You Rathers
Just as she did in the springtime, Marsha in the Middle is at it again with a series of silly summertime Would You Rather queries. Each month, Marsha presents us with 10 questions about a common theme and asks us to share our answers in blog post form on the 10th of the month. This series is such a wonderful way to share more information about ourselves and to learn interesting new things about others. Anyone is invited to join and answer the questions. It is a great way to start new conversations, make meaningful connections with new people, and have a good hearty chuckle every now and then. Without…
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10 on the 10th: June 2023-Wedding Edition
The months are just rolling by at the speed of something much faster than time! We are 10 days into June which means Marsha has some questions for us all. In her 10 on the 10th series, Marsha presents us with 10 questions about a common theme and asks us to share our answers in blog post form or in the comments. This series is a wonderful way to share more information about ourselves and to learn interesting new things about others. Anyone is invited to join and answer the questions. It is a great way to start new conversations and make meaningful connections with new people. June is wedding season,…
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5 Necessary Skills for Foster Caregivers
There are thousands of children in the UK and around the world who are in need of care, but the majority of them have not had the opportunity to receive support from the foster care system. Consequently, this means that both private and government agencies are desperate for foster caregivers to provide adequate resources for delivering first class care to more children in need. If you have ever contemplated fostering a child but you are unsure if it is right for you, consider the following 5 skills that are necessary for providing the best care to a child in need. 1. Clear Communication Foster carers need to have strong communication…
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A Dozen Years & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up On the Edge #652
May 1 was my first born Archie’s dozenth birthday. This got me wondering why do we measure years in decades instead of dozens? If we measured years in dozens, I would be four dozen years old right now instead of five decades old. And four makes me feel younger than five! Either way we measure it, Archie just turned 12 and he wanted to celebrate at WonderWorks where we had Ralph’s “experience” birthday party in March. The kids and Jeff did the ropes course and we all enjoyed the bubble room very much. Check out some photos from the day. The Bubble Room Random Activities The Ropes Course Jeff and…
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5 Ways to Build Emotional Resilience
Emotional resilience is the degree to which can handle stressful life situations while remaining positive and upbeat. It does not mean you are unaffected by the stress or change; it just means you have handled similar situations before. Learning techniques for building emotional resilience can turn difficult circumstances into growth opportunities. The following five techniques may be useful for managing the next obstacle life places in your path. 1. Find your purpose. Those without a strong feeling of purpose are more likely to be rocked by certain challenging situations in life. When you are rooted in your passionate purpose, it provides a certain amount of stability when you encounter difficult…
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10 on the 10th: May 2023-Canned Questions
It is time for Marsha’s 10 on the 10th series where she presents us with 10 questions about a common theme and asks us to share our answers in blog post form or in the comments. This series is a wonderful way to share more information about ourselves and to learn interesting new things about others. Anyone is invited to join and answer the questions. It is a great way to start new conversations and make meaningful connections with new people. For May, Marsha has asked us 10 canned questions. Nope, not questions in a can. Not prefabricated generic questions either. Questions that inquire about our ability to do certain things…and in some…
