The Wonder of Summer: Hula Hooping and More Fun, Post #33

June 3, 2014

The Wonder of Summer: Hula Hooping and More Fun, Post #33

When is the last time you truly had fun acting like a child? Yesterday, last week, last month…you can’t remember? Recently I experienced a fresh perspective on fun and child-like frivolity.

Mom and I were driving in the car when she proceeded to tell me that she spotted hula hoops in the Dollar Store the other day. She wondered if she could still hula hoop as well as she could years ago when I was a kid. Did she let her mind just wonder about the hula hoops? Oh no. Mom didn’t stop just thinking about it. She said she grabbed one of the hula hoops and tried it out in the middle of the store to see if she still could. We laughed and laughed as she recalled putting down her big ol’ purse in the Dollar Store aisle, not caring who was watching her, having fun trying to hula hoop.

Good for her. Shame on me for taking myself too seriously so many times.

A few days later, I was out shopping and spotted hula hoops. I did not drop my purse right there in the store and test her out, but I did purchase two hoops. On my driveway at home, I stepped into the bright yellow, plastic oval hoop, painted with fluorescent stars. I brought the hoop slowly to my waist, took a deep breath, stepped forward with my right foot, and spun the hoop to the right, causing the little beans inside the hoop to make their familiar, spinning sound (just hearing that sound made me smile). It lasted just a few rounds around my waist before it dropped to the ground. I giggled and picked the hoop up, trying again. This time it spun long enough for me to even take a few steps, then fell. I snickered more.

By this time, my two beautiful and hip grandmother neighbors walked by. I posed a challenge and handed each one a hula hoop. They laughed and stepped in the hoops without hesitation. The hoops spun, then fell. We giggled. Fun is contagious!

Sunday our cul-de-sac had a “Summer Kickoff Block Party.” I brought the hula hoops. A few people tried hula hooping, snickering and telling us about how they used them as children all the time. Fun is contagious!

Let’s intentionally play like children sometimes. It’s good for us, for our souls. Let’s hula hoop; build sand castles; sing karaoke; catch fireflies in Mason jars and let them go; blow bubbles; play frisbee; add your fun here….

Reflect:

–What kind of child-like fun do you and your family have? Please comment.

–Who will you reach out to this week make fun contagious?

Renew:

–-“At the time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.'” –Matthew 11:25-26 NIV84

–“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'” –Matthew 18:1-4 NIV84

–“May the God of hope fill you with JOY and peace.” –Romans 15:13 NIV 84

Recharge:

–Let’s humble ourselves and trust like children. What will you do differently to be more child-like?

Resource:

–Hula Hooping is also healthy for you. “Hooping improves core strength, tones your stomach, arms, thighs and behind, is a low-impact, high-energy workout that can burn approximately 400 – 600 calories in an hour.” http://www.hulahooping.com/hoop-fitness.html

–Watch this amazing “Homespun Hoops” video from the Charleston International Film Festival. http://homespunhoops.com/media-2/videos/

May 27, 2014

The Wonder of Summer & Family Bonding Challenge, Post #32

Yesterday kicked off 100 glorious days of the summer season. The productive sounds of lawn mowers, joyful children laughing and splashing in nearby pools, the fragrant aroma of meat cooking on the grill, the lulling sound of katydids chirping at night, the sweet sight of beautiful plants and flowers…my senses are overstimulated with the wonder of summer.

I love that most of our churches, para-church organizations and non-profits curb the meetings and activities during the summer, providing extra time for our intentional rest, recreation, and relaxation. Before you make your “Summer To Do List,” let’s talk about family reunions.

Does your extended family get together as a reunion, or just for weddings and funerals? Perhaps, with your leadership, this summer will be different.

You might be thinking, “I don’t really like being around my big family. I enjoy hanging out with my friends more.” Beloved, yes, we get to choose our friends and not our family. No family is perfect. As I heard someone I greatly respect say, “Each family puts the ‘FUN’ in ‘dysFUNction.'” Please focus on the good attributes of each family member and remember that we share the same bloodline. Let’s look in the mirror and remember we all have flaws.

Perhaps plan some activity around some of the interests your family share. For example, my Mom’s family likes to dance, so we plan to have beach music playing and a makeshift dance floor available.

When you get together, please plan to reminisce and capture those priceless family stories, especially from the more senior members of the family. With the easy video-recording on Smartphones these days, it’s a wonderful way to record your family’s memories of your history and “the way things were.” How did your grandparents/parents meet? What was it like when they were growing up?

This summer, I encourage you to reach out to your grandparents, parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and organize a casual, low-key family reunion. Please know it doesn’t have to be fancy, formal, or even cost much money. It can be in a family member’s backyard or a church fellowship hall. If family is coming from out-of-town, you can have several options available for staying with nearby family or nearby hotels rooms blocked. Some may want to rent a beach-house or mountain home.

Each day is a gift; that’s why it’s called “the present.” Savor every moment of this summer. Please make the first step to spend some intentional time with your family. One piece of advice a mentor told me once: “Always treat your friends like family, and your family like friends.”

Reflect:

–What will you do to bring some of your family together this summer? Please comment.

–What are some of the activities you do together as an extended family?

Renew:

–“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, He leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.” –Psalm 68:5-6 NIV84.

–“Jesus…said, ‘Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.'” –Mark 5:19 NIV84

–“Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.” –1 Timothy 5:3-4 NIV84

Recharge:

–This week, please plan to call or contact at least three family members you haven’t spoken to in a long time.

–How did you feel after you called them?

Resource:

In 2006, we organized 30 of my Mom’s family in the majestic NC mountains in Valle Crucis at the Valle Crucis Conference Center. We all stayed in a lovely 1920’s old dormitory, complete with huge stone fireplace downstairs, and perfect hardwood floors for dancing. (only about $60 per person for accommodations and all three daily meals–easy and beautiful 1920s old school dormitory, including rocking chairs on the porch)

http://www.highsouth.com/vallecrucis/

May 6, 2014

Thank You, Mom, Post #29

With just five days before Mother’s Day, let’s ponder our moms for a bit. What are you planning to do honor your Mom?

This Mother’s Day, let’s try something different. Let’s try to write at least 30 memories or characteristics you’re grateful for with your Mom. Then write or type them, cut them into slips of paper, and give to her for Mother’s Day in a little box. She can enjoy reading a month of encouragement over and over, one for each day. This is what I plan to do for my Mom (shhhh, please don’t tell her). This blog or a box simply cannot contain my gratitude. The following are the first 11 Mom gratitude memories:

1) Thank you for praying for me for years before I was even conceived. Since my only brother Jamie is 12 years older than me, you said you suffered miscarriages and complications as you and Dad tried for more children after Jamie. You were about to give up when you found out you were pregnant with me. Thanks be to God for His plan and His timing. Thank you for being my Mom.

2) Thank you for serving as a room mother in elementary school and chaperoning our field trips.

3) Thank you for dancing and for teaching me to dance. I always loved watching you and your brothers, your family shag dancing to beach music at my grandmother’s home growing up. I remember after Thanksgiving meals that the men would push aside the dinner table to create a large dance floor, perfect for dancing and making a “Soul Train” line. We had so much fun. Watching you dance is a joy.

4) Thank you for displaying the Fruit of the Spirit each day and showing me Jesus’ unconditional love through you. “But the fruit of the Spirit IS (that means all one fruit) love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” –Galatians 5:22-23 NIV84

5) Thank you for teaching me that if three or more cars are in line at a fast-food restaurant, it’s faster to go inside to order your food. I don’t eat fast food much, but I still abide by this.

6) Thank you for attending all my home and away basketball and volleyball games in high school. Sometimes you and Dad were two of a few parents.

7) Thank you for the example of your well-read, well-worn Bible that shows to me and to anyone how “Thy Word is a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path.” Psalm 119:105. If we may be the only Bible someone may ever read, you radiate the Word. “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” John 1:14a NIV84

8) Thank you for making me have a curfew, even though I didn’t appreciate it at the time. I so respect the healthy rules and boundaries you set for me growing up. You set them with love.

9) Thank you for teaching me the love of flowers and God’s majesty. I appreciate that you asked me growing up to “dead-head” our 100+ roses each day after school in our garden. I will always remember the wonderful fragrance of roses in every room of our home growing up–what a gift.

10) Thank you for letting me go away to college out of state to Appalachian State University. I know it was a sacrifice for our family to pay the higher tuition. I appreciate the investment and pray you know in my heart it was worth every penny.

11) Thank you for giving me the grace and freedom and wide open space to fail and succeed, knowing you would love me unconditionally. You are the best cheerleader and encourager I know.

Do you struggle with this upcoming holiday? Some have beloved Moms who are in heaven. Some struggle with their relationship with their Mom. If either is the case, my hearts hurts as yours does. I encourage you to seek out an older lady in your life who can or currently serves as a mentor to you. Please consider honoring her for Mother’s Day. Some Moms are blood-related. Others are related by the blood of Jesus.

Reflect:

–How do you plan to honor your Mom for Mother’s Day? Please comment.

Renew:

–“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” –Exodus 20:12 NIV84

–“Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopus), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, ‘Dear woman, here is your son.’ And he said to this disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from then on this disciple took her into his home.” –John 19-25-27 NLT

Recharge:

–Which mentor lady in your life will you show appreciation for?

—“All I am I owe to my Mother.” –Abraham Lincoln