Training Your Kids for a Pet Dog

This lesson is from Shared Responsibility University
Training for Pets Course
Lessons 1 & 2

"Please can we get a dog? Please?!!!" Has that ever been voiced in your home?

When your child begs for a dog and you feel like the party-pooper because you know you'll most likely end up taking care of it, try these ideas. When a child promises to take care of the dog, give them a chance to show you. Provide these two simulations to offer responsibility experiences to inform the family decision.

Lesson 1:  
Supplies:

• 6-8 large or small Tootsie Rolls, unwrapped
• Brown paper lunch bags 
• Incentive chart
• Incentive marker: sticker or marker to write initials or draw a star, etc.

Instructions:

1. Three times a week, place/hide multiple large or small unwrapped Tootsie Rolls (apologies to Tootsie Roll), depending on the size of the dog you are considering, around your back yard. 
   
2. Put lunch bags in an accessible location to the child. The more the child can manage independently, the better for you.
   

   

   Photo Credit: ebay.com

3. Show your child how to go outside and gather the Tootsie Rolls in the bag. 
4. Inform the child that this needs to be done three times a week for one month. 
5. Only explain this once. Provide no reminders. Remember, you do not want the extra work of dog care to fall on you. Depending on the age of the child, additional instruction or demonstration may be warranted.
6. Encourage the results you like with verbal specific praise and an incentive chart. See Step 8.
7. Tell them where to set the bag, so you can check their work and later rescatter the Tootsie Rolls prior to them picking them up the next time. Reuse!
8. Set up a chart for the child to track weekly what days they collected Tootsie Rolls. For younger children, you can help them place a sticker on the day they accomplished the task to help motivate and remember. This data will be used to assess their readiness for a dog at the end of this course. For printables: http://www.child-behavior-guide.com/printable-reward-charts.html 
   
9. Discuss their level of enjoyment of this routine at the end of the month.

Lesson 2: 

Supplies

• Dog food and water bowls
• Dog food or dry rice or similar item
• Incentive chart (can use same one as in Lesson 1.

Instructions

1. Buy a dog food bowl and water bowl. Include child in bowl selection, unless that will mislead the child into thinking getting a dog is going to happen or you want to select the cheapest bowls, not the cutest.
   

   

   Photo Credit: http://drix.dvrlists.com/dog-dishes/

2. Buy a bag of white rice or real dog food, if you prefer.
   
   
   
   
3. Make the rice or dog food bag accessible to the child. 
4. Show the child how to fill the food bowl with one or two cups of dry rice or dog food and separately fill the water bowl. Some measuring skills are required. Or you can provide a scoop that measures two cups.
5. Tell the child to fill the food bowl with rice and change the water every morning around 7am and every evening for one month. Go one week at a time. Anticipate improvement as the child adjusts to the demands.
6. Encourage the results you like with verbal specific praise and an incentive chart. See Step 8 in Lesson 1.
7. You can pour the rice or dog food back in the bag or jar and the child can reuse it over and over during this simulation.
8. Discuss their level of enjoyment of this routine at the end of the month.

At the conclusion of these two simulations, have a family meeting to discuss the desire to get a dog. Use the experiences to inform the readiness decision. The child is now ready to have feed a dog and clean up the yard, relying less on you. Since they know a bit more of how much work it is, the desire to have a dog is more informed. 

There is still training and walking responsibilities to be managed. Ask to walk a friends dog together with your child, multiple times if possible. Observe a local dog obedience class and talk to the instructor about time involved practicing at home to raise a well-behaved, well-socialized pet.

A dog can be a wonderful addition to a family. Responsibilities increase with the addition of a dog, especially a puppy. Rescue a dog, if that is right for your situation. Always be prepared on how to care for a dog in a responsible and caring way. Otherwise, just continue to watch movies and read books about dogs. Or volunteer at or donate to a shelter.

10 Downton Abbey Lessons for Life

1. If you are sinister, suspicious, and snarky for five plus years, don't expect to end with much sympathy, support, or friendships. But we can hope.
2. If you are the oldest matriarch in your family, understand your words, though witty and often wise, will often be a bit off-putting to those close to you. And delight your audience.
3. As we age, new technology can startle and cause distrust at the beginning. Embrace it.
4. Women evolve. Stand back, observe, and honor.
5. Avoid an ulcer at all costs.
6. Marigolds and daisies can grow together.
7. If you cannot find the love of your life for many seasons, hold on. At least millions of people will be pulling for you.
8. If you marry a head butler, be sure you love to run your home the same way he expects the manor to be run.
9. Family pets, especially a Labrador Retriever, will win your heart, and when they leave you, it is painful. But we can learn to love again.
10.  Hope and love will survive, when ways of life must change with the times. Stay optimistic.
    
    Thank you, Downton, for a great sixth season -- so far!
    
    
    
     

The Morning After Another Tragic Event

The morning after...I'll continue to pray, to mourn for those I do not know who are going into unforeseen pain and hard-to-answer questions. I'll hold loved ones closer. I'll fight the fear of the active shooter reality, for fear steals life. I'll seek beauty, truth, and virtue, if only it were that easy.

I'll not judge entire people groups nor world religions because that interrupts the good that still exists, and disrespects my theology of God's love for all people. It also seems unfair, unbalanced, or poorly informed. I'll focus on the many vulnerable in our world, and continue to support the efforts of World Relief. I'll trust in God, who still miraculously redeems and restores in pursuit of ultimate shalom.

http://worldreliefgardengrove.org/     https://worldrelief.org/

I'll not blame media or political parties because that distracts me from my responsibilities. That blinds me to the privilege of being present in this moment. I can make the world better with small acts of kindness. In the long run, that may have more impact than legislation.

And then there are the questions.

• The question of where is God in the midst of such suffering. I don't have a satisfying answer. Yet. But I'm OK with asking and resting in not knowing. That does not bring me doubt. It draws me closer.
• I'll still question the accessibility of weapons. 
• The question of evil looms large. 
• The question of why these situations have become so common in this land of the free and the brave is a timely question deserving response. 
• The question of these attacks in other parts of the world that freeze us all in tragedy is crushing. 

 But the question of how we go on to honor lives lost through making lives matter is my more urgent question again this morning. Again. That word "again" is haunting on this morning after.
I agree with Larry Wilmore, The Nightly Show, "This has really got to stop."

 

Control, Trust, and Today

The tension in the land between control and trust is sometimes fierce. Accept that. The crossover from control to trust is battle or surrender. Rest will come. The sense of fear, of risk, of threat is sometimes staggering. Grant grace to yourself. 

Looking at the past, faith stands strong. Looking to the future, faith can falter. Living in the present moment, faith stays focused. Give us this day our daily ________ . Whatever you need today, may you find it. 

We are promised enough for today. The lilies and the sparrows demonstrate it, as we are told in ancient writings. Breath deep. Repeat.

For Lent - Embrace

This post was written by my friend, Tara. I want to share it with you:

I recently read a blog that recounted the story of a woman going to visit a friend of hers that had recently lost her 21 month old baby.  She didn’t know what to say – she said, “I was at a loss of words because of her loss.”  She was astounded to realize that when she saw her friend that it was her words that brought her comfort.  Her friend, the one that just lost her precious baby, brought words of comfort to the author.  These were the words.

You know, you’re a mom.

These words came as she was recounting the story of the hours that surrounded the death of her daughter and unable to express her feelings, looked at her friend and said,

You know, you’re a mom.

And suddenly she knew.  She didn’t know what it was like to lose a child, but she knew the joy her friend felt when holding that precious baby and so she could imagine what it must have been like to have that taken away.

She knew, she was a mom.

These words have come back to me over and over since I read it.  I was at my son’s football game a few weeks ago and there were 2 boys racing on the bleachers.  Of course we parents that were watching knew it was going to end badly, and it did.  In an effort to jump one of the benches the boy that was in the lead tripped and tumbled over the bench and fell awkwardly onto the cement.  He immediately started to cry and a woman that was nearby jumped up to help him.  His parents rushed over and carried their crying, skinned kneed boy back to their seats.  And I thought,

I know, I’m a mom.

A friend of mine posted on Facebook that her dog of many years passed away.  She posted pictures of the cute little pup from his puppy years on up through his adult years.  And I thought,

I know, I’m a dog owner too.

A friend whispered in my ear before church one day, “I just found out that I have breast cancer and I don’t know what I’m going to do.”  Tears flooded my eyes and I thought,

I know, I’m a woman too.

When I hear of friends that are going through the pain of losing a parent.  I think,

I know, I’m a daughter too.

I see teachers having a tough day with their students.  Life circumstances have made their personal lives very difficult.  Their patience level is worn very thin so that by the time they get into the classroom they are not the greatest role models for their students.  And I think,

I know, I’m a teacher too.

I see a man and his wife outside a store playing an instrument and asking for money because they are out of work and have little to nothing.  I look at them and think,

I know, I’m human too.

We may not know the exact circumstances that people face, but we can empathize because at the very core of who we are, we have the ability to understand because we are human too.  Despite our socio-economic or ethnic or gender differences,

We know, we’re human too.

During the Lenten season, people generally give up something to remind them of the sacrifice that Jesus made for them.  But, I want to embrace something.  I want to embrace my humanness and be able to look at the other human beings I see, other children of God, and be able to say,

I know, I’m human too.

Have a good day fellow human

More about our guest post contributor: Tara is a creative writer, actor, leader of children's church, and wife and mother to two awesome kids. She also loves the family dog, a young chocolate lab. She lives in Southern California where she cooks amazing recipes and practices ballet. She is my fun and caring friend.


Happy Easter, everyone -- especially us humans!

The Cry Of A Tiny Baby

This remains one of my favorite Christmas story songs of contemporary times. The lyrics are powerful. The story is profound. And the simple cry of a tiny babe began a ripple of reconciliation that continues to change lives. Thank you, Bruce Cockburn, for this song.

The Cry of a Tiny Baby

Mary grows a child without the help of a man
Joseph get upset because he doesn't understand
Angel comes to Joseph in a powerful dream
Says "God did this and you're part of his scheme"
Joseph comes to Mary with his hat in his hand
Says "forgive me I thought you'd been with some other man"
She says "what if I had been - but I wasn't anyway and guess what
I felt the baby kick today"

Like a stone on the surface of a still river
Driving the ripples on forever
Redemption rips through the surface of time
In the cry of a tiny babe

The child is born in the fullness of time
Three wise astrologers take note of the signs
Come to pay their respects to the fragile little king
Get pretty close to wrecking everything
'Cause the governing body of the whole [Holy] land
Is that of Herod, a paranoid man
Who when he hears there's a baby born King of the Jews
Sends death squads to kill all male children under two
But that same bright angel warns the parents in a dream
And they head out for the border and get away clean

Like a stone on the surface of a still river
Driving the ripples on forever
Redemption rips through the surface of time
In the cry of a tiny babe

There are others who know about this miracle birth
The humblest of people catch a glimpse of their worth
For it isn't to the palace that the Christ child comes
But to shepherds and street people, hookers and bums
And the message is clear if you've got [you have] ears to hear
That forgiveness is given for your guilt and your fear
It's a Christmas gift [that] you don't have to buy
There's a future shining in a baby's eyes

Like a stone on the surface of a still river
Driving the ripples on forever
Redemption rips through the surface of time
In the cry of a tiny baby

Dirty Corn Chowder

Saturday night, I started to make Corn Chowder for dinner. It looked easy enough, and a steamy bowl of homemade corn chowder sounded tasty for this chilly fall evening at home.

 

It was my first time to make this recipe from my Trader Joe's Cookbook.

 

I thought roasted corn sounded good to use in the soup. 

So I added it in to the soup. I had to chuckle. The roasted corn actually looked like dirty corn, as if I'd scraped the corn right off the pavement. I was glad I hadn't invited company over for dinner. Eww!

Just roasted and charred.

Well, it's nothing that can't be solved by chocolate, I guess. I'll serve brownies for dessert, in case the roasted corn looked nasty after all. A good plan, even though I knew the soup would turn out fine, even if did end up looking just a bit rustic.

Brownies ready and waiting to rescue if needed

Rustic is good in homemade food, right? Besides that, brownies are always a good finishing touch. So the brownies were on stand by to rescue the meal if needed. 

The final ingredients to complete the soup included salt, pepper, and thyme. I love popping leaves off thyme stems. Just slide my thumb and pointing finger down the stem and the leaves come right off. A fun little task. Then it just takes a little chopping and they are ready to toss in the soup.

Thyme stems and thyme leaves ready to chop

The fresh thyme, chopped, and added to the salt and pepper.

 With that, the soup was finished and ready to serve. It was delicious, and I'll definitely make it again.

Now, just one more thing. I had so much of the fresh herb left over. This guy wondered if we can put it in a bottle, but the question still remains.

Seriously. I need to know. Can you freeze thyme? [Insert wink.]

The Great Pumpkin - A Halloween Tradition

Ever since 1966, when It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown first debuted on prime time television, I've been a faithful fan. I've watched, loved, and enjoyed that story for forty-eight years, since I was in the sixth grade.

Credit: Paramount Pictures & Charles M. Schultz

It was a simpler time, and smack-dab-in-the-middle of my childhood. I'm instantly swept back to that time, and the sweetness of life. I've felt sweet pity for Charlie Brown forty-eight times. I've anticipated that people would drop rocks in his trick-or-treat bag again every year. How can he stand it? I wait with childlike angst, while Linus writes a letter to The Great Pumpkin, and then sits in the patch waiting for it to rise up. I dread the impending doom and disappointment. Same story. Same familiarity. Same delight in the cuteness and wisdom of Charles Schulz and the animators.

Same sense of home. That is what even these little traditions evoke. A memory of a happy time at home, for I was blessed enough to have a loving family and stable home life that included these fun nights of TV specials. And that family taught me my first lessons in community and shared experiences.

I still make plans to watch it every year during the week prior to Halloween. Since I own the DVD version, I can watch it when it is convenient. I often bake sugar cookies, decorating them with orange icing to eat one or two during the show. It is part of fall fun for me.

This year I made dark chocolate haystacks instead. Then I placed those little candy pumpkins in my cluster of chocolate haystacks that are hardening to be eaten. Fun and honoring good memories are my only goals for this event. And a tasty treat is my reward, while watching It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, yet one more time.

Why do I never tire of watching this old cartoon? Who knows! The childlike spirit and imagination in me live on, and for that I am grateful. Grateful for parents who nurtured that in me. Grateful for the strength to let it live on in my adult heart. And grateful for the sea salt sprinkled on those dark chocolate haystacks with peanuts, waiting to be enjoyed during the cartoon. Too bad the sea salt doesn't glitter in the photo.

Enjoy your fall traditions, everyone! Create some new ones. Just because it is fun. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to slip away and watch it all again.

California Convert - It Happened

I may have morphed into a Southern Californian after all, while I wasn't looking. After living here for over twenty-four years now, it was bound to happen. Here are the symptoms and causes.

• Humidity hits 10% and I complain about how humid it is. 
• I'm freezing when the temperature plummets to 65 degrees. 
• I know to expect a cement ditch (channel) when I hear about the San Gabriel River in our area, not scenic water flowing through the woods. 
• I can "go to the snow." 
• I've been in a few "sigalerts."
• I've rocked and rolled in a few earthquakes.
• I've seen a celebrity or two.
• I refer to highways by number: the 405, the 605, the 101. Oh, and the 60, the 10, and the 210, for starters.
• I'm aware of the abundance of nail shops and taco stands everywhere.
• I sold my raincoat and gave away almost all my sweaters.
• And the other day it happened. To my chagrin, I realized I actually sped up at a yellow traffic light, instead of slowing down as I was taught in the Midwest. Sigh.

But I do keep on renewing my subscription to Midwest Living magazine. I still love the heartland.

After all, it is the people you meet and learn to love that make the place home.

"God bless us, everyone." - Tiny Tim

The Big Church Vote

Today, at 12:15, my local church will have a special business meeting to vote on the candidate for senior pastor. This is a big deal day, a historic moment. The former senior pastor served for over seventeen years, so at our place this day doesn't come very often. I am excited to watch this all transpire and to participate in the vote. Then we will wait for the votes to be counted and gather again at 5:00pm to hear the outcome.

All sorts of thoughts and images run through my mind. The white smoke so significant to church leadership for my Catholic friends...

Credit: http://galleryhip.com/white-smoke-pope.html

And a more light-hearted moment from the entertainment world, the Final Rose Ceremony...final candidate, will you accept this rose?

Credit: http://www.chiangraibulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/the-bachelor.jpg

This is a big deal to me, to be a part of selecting the next top leader where I'm involved in a community church. "Under the influence" can have a negative connotation, but in this case our congregation will be "under the influence" of this next senior pastor for many years. So this is a serious and exciting day. The culmination of many, many months of the search.

So much work has gone into selecting a final candidate. I will not go into that here. The way a church like ours gets from the point of realizing a search for senior pastor will begin to the congregational vote to approved the selected candidate. Take it from me, it is tricky, intense, informative, and takes many people over many hours. I am the spouse of one of the Search Team Committee members. By way of simply sharing our evenings, I overheard many sample sermons from other applicants, so I have some insight into the diligence of this committee.

Today is the day. The members of our congregation will vote. If a strong percentage votes yes, a new day and a big celebration and a whole lot of relief will launch for many of us. Today, in my faith group, we wait and watch for a tangible work of the Holy Spirit in working in and guiding us all to vote accordingly. That sounds a little mysterious. Unity in a diverse group often is. 

Red, White, and Blueberries

A sweet treat for Independence Day! And it doesn't have to go together perfectly. Any attempt will come out pretty and delicious! Art in a glass.

• Bottom layer: Strawberry sorbet or raspberry sherbet - something red
• Middle layer: Vanilla ice cream
• Top layer: Vanilla ice cream blended with fresh blueberries
• Finishing touch: Whip cream and some fresh blueberries

1. Let the sorbet or sherbet and ice cream soften on the counter. 
2. Scoop the red frozen treat for the bottom layer. 
3. Spoon in vanilla for the second layer on top of the red layer.
4. Blend more vanilla ice cream with fresh blueberries for the blue top bluish layer.
5. Top it off with some whip cream and blueberries.
6. Serve with a spoon and enjoy!

Enjoy celebrating this great country with family and friends this weekend!

Summer...Advice from a Firefly

Growing up in the Midwest, along with humid summer days, came the delight of after-dark "lightning bugs," or fireflies. When I return for visits during July or August, I always look forward to watching for fireflies at night, though I no longer collect them in a jar with tiny holes for air in the lid.

Here is some whimsical advice from a firefly, by Ilan Shamir. I especially like the last one. How about you?

• Be full of bright ideas. 
• Pulse with excitement. 
• Have a healthy glow. 
• Delight in summer evenings. 
• Keep a childlike sense of wonder. 
• Set a shining example. 
• Lighten up!

Diagnosing Bibliophilosis...A Book Lover's Dilemma

"We read to know we are not alone."

- C.S. Lewis

Bibliophilosis* is not a diagnosed disease, but if you are a book lover, a bibliophile, you are at risk. Symptoms appear once you are traumatized by a lack of bookshelf space. Perhaps a move prompted meltdown. Boxing books and carrying loads to a new location. Not fun. Maybe you decided to simply simplify life, so some books have to go. You wouldn't take them in an emergency evacuation, would you? Perhaps your children are sleeping in the hall, and their rooms have been converted, even the crib, to crafty bookshelves and cozy library hideaways. You'll realize when you have a problem. It is time for an intervention.

Credit: Etsy

If you love to read and learn and hear stories, as I do, you will relate to some of these indications. If you do not, you are clearly not suffering from bibliophilosis. Curling up with a good book on a rainy day with a cup of something steamy (hot cocoa, coffee, or tea - your choice) would never come to mind. For true book lovers, a total mental picture and good feelings were just triggered by the words book and rainy day in the same sentence. So, look through this list of key symptoms, and see what speaks your truth.

TWELVE SYMPTOMS TO IDENTIFY BIBLIOPHILOSIS

Credit: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4vbluunjQ1r09f27o1_500.jpg

1. The Lie: I promise I won't buy one more book until I've read the others I own already.
2. The Reality: I won't buy one more book until I hear about one that interests me. 
3. The Challenge: (If, when you read non-fiction, you are a confessed chronic highlighter/margin note writer, this is for you.) When I've finished studying -- a.k.a. reading, then what? Now it is extra difficult to part with the book. Ugh. [Note: I've improved in this area since someone recently said to me, "I love seeing people's notes in a book!" - Homeland Security Agent. OK. It wasn't a snoop or Homeland Security Agent. But you never know, do you?] 
4. The Fear: What if I give away this unread book sitting around, and then miss something good? Where will I ever find that nugget of wisdom, that engaging character, that page-turning suspense, that great how-to list to solve my problems if I give away the unread, shelf-space-hogging books on my "Read someday" shelf? [Oh, yes. The library. The Internet. For starters.] 
5. The Inner Argument: My thoughts nag me. "Oh, sure, you're really going to read that someday,” mocking my sweet intentions year after year. After year. I sincerely vow to read that book. Soon. Maybe even this year. 
6. The Tension: Just because I love books, that doesn't mean I want to marry them - commit to them for life. Parting with the good ones hurts just a little and sometimes it is downright stressful! Momentarily.
7. The Choice: When the quantity of books owned exceeds shelf space, do I a) Get rid of some books, b) Buy more shelves, c) Sentence myself to purchase e-books from now on, or d) Other. 
8. The Caution: I do not loan out my books. People never return them.
9. The Guilt: I keep books I've inherited or been given by other people, even though I know I'll never read them, and the person who gave them is no longer in my life. Why? Why?
10. The Creative Illusion: I buy books to simply safely store my bookmarks. [Unless, of course, you are a one book-at-a-time person. I've always admired those types, though it seems so controlled and dull and functional.]
11. The Determination (Also known as Book Lover's Attention Deficit Dilemma): I will finish this book before I start another.
12. The Dream: I wish I had a day all to myself just to read. And if, perhaps, it is a rainy day and there is a cozy fire to sit near, even better!

Did you recognize any of the symptoms in yourself? If you identified yourself as a book lover, how do you balance your love for reading, the delight in owning a new, real, published, hold-in-your-hand book and your life? Is there any hope? Or will we all just die over-booked and content? Can you ever own too many books? Too many cats? Yes. We've heard stories about those folks. But too many books? Never.

“I’d rather give up my husband than my books.” – Anonymous

"When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes." 

- Desiderius Erasmus

*Treatment of bibliophilosis is currently not covered under most medical insurance plans. You'll have to pay for more bookshelves yourself.

Credit: http://littlemisseverything.files.wordpress.com

 

Chasing Summer - Charting Joy

Organizing summer? Are you kidding me? Isn't summer when we relax? If you, like me, are a chart and list kinda girl, this may appeal to you.

Summers...woosh...and another one is gone. How do you define summer? How do you make the most of this season? Another one is almost over.

Zuma Beach, California

Back when I worked in the business sector, summer still came with an exhilaration for anticipated enjoyable times with friends and family, even if I only had two weeks off. Yet, I still thrilled at the longer days, a more relaxed sense of life, and plenty of time outdoors. [Note: During my business years, I lived in the Midwest, so that explains my comment about more time outdoors. Now that I live in Southern California, the time outdoors can happen all year.]

I now measure summer in different ways, and I practiced summer appreciation. I am now an educator with an annual summer break. That does spoil me, and changed my perspective. Still, in summers past, I've found myself frustrated and disappointed at the quick end to the season, which always seemed to sneak up on me. I was motivated to change that.

So, if you count the days between Memorial Day to Labor Day, at least this year, you'll come up with 100 days. What a perfectly round number of summer days! And doesn't 100 days seem generous? And when summer is connected to the calendar, not days off, my state of mind shifted. Put yourself in a summer state of mind Memorial Day to Labor Day.

The second summer time frame came from the eleven weeks I had until school begins again. Well, that has flown past. School begins again tomorrow, but it can still be summer until Labor Day, right?

Thirdly, consider the autumnal equinox, that high brow official term for a change in light resulting in a change in our seasons. The Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere are illuminated equally. That's almost romantic. How does that happen? A little research will reveal that day and night are the same on equinox days because the line or plane of the earth's equator passes the center of the sun. So brush up on geography and geometry and science and read all this again, if that doesn't make sense. Or jump on the Internet for a diagram. [Note: That really helped me understand!] So, it is technically summer until September 22 this year. A few more weeks to jam summer fun into your calendar.

Regarding the actual summer time off, in my current career within education, five weeks and four days was my official summer break this year. I count that as my vacation, not my definition of when summer begins and ends. This year, I did that intentionally, anyway. It added fun to see it as a long break from work tucked inside summer, instead of defining it as my summer. Expanding my view of summer made it all seem nicer and comfortably long.

Do you hear others bemoaning and complaining about summer going by too fast and how they didn't get enough done this summer and all that? I have. Some of that complaining came from me in previous years. What a downer! I decided to flip and expand my perspective and put a positive spin on summer with a "choice chart." It made a difference. You might be surprised how summer seemed more luxurious, without adding any additional days, when you recall all the opportunities that came your way.

A Paper Source Calendar

It has been a good summer. Things still didn't get done, but my perspective was more aware. I granted myself permission to stop and smell those roses, stop and be present, stop and enjoy today, instead of grumbling and listing regrets.

So, here's that "choice chart" I tried this summer. Since it was the summer of 2013, I created a Summer of '13 chart to motivate action on things that would make it a good summer. This was a new idea. It was rewarding and fun. I created a chart of categories of activities I enjoy, and added thirteen spaces under each category. My Summer of '13 "choice chart" became a bit of a game, while subtly provided some focus. The Summer of '13 motivated me to aim at activities I value, completing them thirteen times before summer ended. My categories included:

• 13 Books Read
• 13 Places Visited/Tried (places, restaurants, etc.)
• 13 Movies Watched
• 13 Guests Over
• 13 New Recipes
• 13 Queries Sent (I'm a writer)
• 13 Days of Fitness (defined as a minimum of 30-minutes of steady physical activity)
• 13 Pounds Down 
• 13 Times in the Pool
• See 13 Friends (times connecting with buddies)
• 13 Acts of Service
• 13 Times of Learning
• 13 Containers Organized (defined as a drawer, cupboard, box, etc.)
• 13 Dates (with the husband of mine)
• 13 Unscheduled Days (days with nothing planned; get up and see how the day unfolds; protected time)

So how did it go? Well, I am pleased to report I experienced some great success and also have categories without much happening. That is just fine because I was alert and aware to what the days of summer brought my way. Instead of, as I've typically done in the past, arriving at September unable to truly remember all the good that happened over the summer. I now have my happy little list. I can look at my chart and see all I did get to do this summer. And I am GRATEFUL and feeling positive. I am nicer to be around.

The Summer of '13 Chart

Are you curious about my results? Maybe. Maybe not. If so, here you go. And be aware that it is not Labor Day yet! I may add a few more to my boxes. I experienced success in the categories listed above that are highlighted in bold pink. If you'd told me I had thirteen unscheduled days over the summer, I would be shocked unless I'd recorded the actual days! Evidence that I actually slowed down! Less than success happened in new recipes (tried one), queries (none), and pounds down (oh, well). Still, I did read nine books, saw ten movies, had eight people over, got in six days of fitness, jumped in the pool seven times (after none last summer), and shared in eight acts of service. On top of all that, what encouraged me the most was keeping things that are important to me foremost in my mind by playing this little game. I did much better at priorities and focus over the summer.

If you created a chart called Fall of 2013, what categories would make the season fun and meaningful for you? What could you become more intentional about, so that your life doesn't fly by unnoticed? I cheer you on to create a simple chart. Fall is busier, so I'd have fewer categories, but maybe I'll try it again. Join me. I have more books to read.