Everyday Inspiration in New England
Category: Happiness
The Love Langauge of After-School Snacks
I recently took a pause from working out of the home and am back home-momming, as my kids call it. And do you know one of the first things they got excited about? After-school snacks! Unbeknownst to me, I hadn’t really planned ahead for food when we all got home in the afternoon. It was a free-for-all of grabbing something from the fridge or pantry. But I never thought too much about it because life at 3:30pm was a craze and survival mode said, “all left to their own food choices.” Apparently, my kids didn’t appreciate this. They had most looked forward to a homemade treat. I realized that while they did like creative alternatives to the bag of Smartfood or apple and peanut butter, it was more about the time we spent talking while eating the snack together. The grab-and-go option wasn’t as fulfilling emotionally since it didn’t make us slow down together and debrief about our days. Now that I’m home-momming 2.0, I can’t help but exercise my baking skills more often. It’s not the homemade options necessarily that show love, it’s the time and effort I make for a few moments in the afternoon, sitting at our kitchen island sharing, laughing, and comforting. However, homemade banana apple muffins warm out of the oven never hurt (see recipe below). ❤︎
(Instead of 2 bananas, I substituted one with apple sauce; I used whole what flour instead of all-purpose; I replaced 3 cups of apples with 3 whole apples.)
Exceeding your 40% capacity…1 belief at a time
I love to read nonfiction, self-help books. If I learn one nugget of information that resonates, it is worth it. This week’s read is The Power of Self-Discipline; 5-minute exercises to build self-control, good habits, and keep going when you want to give up by Peter Hollins. I’m only a third of the way in but this stuck with me:
“When an individual’s mind begins telling them that they are physically or emotionally maxed out, in reality, they have only pushed themselves to forty percent of their full capacity. In other words, they could endure sixty percent more if only they believed that they were capable of it” (77).
Wow! Let this sink in…Tell your kids this! Because imagine when we really grasp this and start believing, really believing what we can do, we can achieve SO much! Remember those dreams we only worked a little on, or that weight loss program that we gave up on 2 weeks in, or that marathon we wanted to run but stopped training when it got cold outside? That’s only 40% of us talking…there’s another 60% that CAN do it!! Reframing, refocusing, and restating our struggles, pain, obstacles and excuses can be pushed out of the way when we start firmly believing in ourselves, believing in that other 60% that exists inside all of us. What are you waiting for?! ❤︎
Family Style Anniversary
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NIV)
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
I’ve been married 22 years; together 30. Our anniversaries have become family celebrations simply because our marriage gave us a family. Typically, our kids make us dinner. They take such pride in spending time planning, setting a pretty table and cooking together to surprise us. We don’t exchange gifts, but sit around a table filled with love and laughter and simply count our blessings…the greatest gift I could have ever hoped for. ❤︎
Surprise notes… from my kids!
What goes around comes around!
I try to leave my kiddos notes to show them I’m thinking of them, loving them, praying for them. These notes go into lunch boxes, taped to bathroom mirrors and even hidden in suitcases. But to my surprise, I get notes too! A simple message to show they are thinking of me and it means way more than they could imagine. “Have a great day,” was secretly written on my office calendar by my eldest daughter, brightening my day and my heart immeasurably.
And I usually don’t think they’re listening to me, but they’re definitely watching.❤️
Summer Adventures Strengthen Families
Summer beckons bucket lists of activities that get pushed aside during the busy school year. It’s a time to plan adventures near and far to simply spend time together. Backyard adventures could be making different types of s’mores (PBcups are my favorite) to constructing a zip line to turning on the sprinklers on a hot day and running through them.
Local adventures turn into visiting as many ice cream shops in a 20 mile radius, keeping a running list of local trails hiked or taking a guided history tour in your own town.
A pillar of strong families is spending quality time together.
Get curious together &
Adventure On…
The sweetness of a cookie jar
One of my most beloved heirlooms is my mother’s Fanny Farmer cookbook! My go-to, never disappoint assortment of recipes sure to delight all! Summer vacation allows time to get back to baking much more frequently than the school year. Out comes our cookie jar and smiles abound knowing that a sweet treat awaits.
Today’s recipe: Cape Cod Oatmeal Cookies! Yum! What makes them different… molasses! It’s totally worth buying a container even though you don’t use much. These may quickly replace your traditional oatmeal cookie forever!
Cape Cod Oatmeal Cookies
Preheat oven 350
Sift:
1 1/2c flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
Stir in:
1 beaten egg
1c sugar
1/2c melted butter
1tbs molasses
1/4c whole milk
1 3/4c oatmeal
1c raisins and/or walnuts
Place on greased cookie sheet by teaspoonfuls and bake until edges are lightly brown (approx 12 mins).
Now you can fill that cookie jar and watch the smiles grow. Enjoy!
Pulling the weeds
Several summers ago I herniated a disc in my back doing what I love… gardening. Since then, the joy of tending to my flowers ceased. The pain radiating down my leg turned off my desire to garden for a very long time. I watched as weeds overtook beds that I had carefully maintained, curated for years. I hired someone to weed a few times a season but it was not the same as my daily love of the flowers that brought much happiness. It was easier to not look at my yard, not spend time there, disregard it.
That changed this summer and I can’t tell you why. A stirring in me perhaps to move forward, yet back to what I love but have put to the side. It’s been hard, sweat-filled, dirt-covered work and I loved every minute. Yes, I garden differently now, carefully bending with my legs, short bursts of time, not feeling the pressure to do it all at once. Instead, I’ve started the regrowth of my garden, slowly, removing weeds one by one. It’s beginning to flourish right before my grateful eyes. Maybe I’m reblooming too.
Daily Thanksgiving
“Joy is the realest reality, the fullest life, and joy is always given, never grasped. God gives gifts and I give thanks and I unwrap the gift given: joy.” 57
What a simple gift to give ourselves and our children: the power of giving thanks. With continual thanksgiving, joy flows, worries lessen, internal peace comforts. Feel joy, share joy, give thanks.
Surrounded by Scripture
I recently discovered artist and inspirational author, Emily Lex. My mother let me borrow her copy of Emily’s book, Freely and Lightly. I read it in a few days, not wanting to put it down, soaking up all the honest feelings, reflections, wisdom, and heart. Her choice of Scriptures resonated with me along with the simple, everyday objects she paints. I ordered her simple and beautiful everyday Truth for Today cards and display them around our home for my family to read, remember, and reflect on. Their honest beauty of words and art fill our home with His presence even in the most unexpected places.
As you can imagine, I bought my own copy of Freely and Lightly!
*Check out Emily’s site to add inspiration to your days.
God Bless America, Cape Style
The epitome of Cape Cod…hydrangeas and American flags both proudly displaying their colors. Quintessential summer❤️
Team F💜mily!
Our family is a team! We work together, help one another, challenge, support, coach, comfort and want to be the best we can be.
Our team mindset considers our family as a collective unit, shaping our decisions, plans, words, and actions. Doing household chores becomes working together to make our home the place we love. Helping unload groceries becomes many hands make light work. Reminders are simply, “Come help!” Because that’s what teammates do!
We are each other’s biggest cheerleaders and our team is strengthened by this commitment to one another. So celebrate your one and only amazing family and have fun together… Go f💜mily!
Sprinkling Beauty
I enjoy adding flowers to spaces in our home. Our powder room gets a ton of use since it’s right off our kitchen. Here’s a bloom from my garden, which adds a simple delight for any visitor. It’s these little things that my kids notice and enjoy…it’s what makes our house a home.
Stop Asking High Schoolers, “What do you want to do?”
My oldest just graduated high school. The first round of questions from family, friends, acquaintances and strangers alike was, “Where are you going to college?” The second question was, “What do you want to do?” The implication is what will you study and more indirectly, what job do you want.
The reality is most 17 & 18 yr olds have no idea what they’re going to do. How many adults still don’t either?! So I’ve come to realize it’s more helpful and pleasant to ask, “What are you currently interested in?” or “What classes may spark your curiosity?” Then you make these young adults more comfortable with the next phase of their lives focused on discovering strengths, passions, and paths they never dreamed of.
And please don’t ask me what I want to do when I grow up because I’m still figuring it out!❤️
Fun Mom
My youngest recently told me I’m a “fun mom!” When I inquired what makes me fun, she said because I play!! That’s what our kids want and need from us… connection, sincere interest, engagement. Like all mothers, it seems I always have a list of things to do, but her soft voice echos in my head to make sure I leave time to play.❤️
the Essentialist Family 