As I put retreat flyers in our church mailboxes Saturday, I thought about our motives for inviting so many women.  It’s not about the numbers, really.  It’s about including each and every one into our circle of friends.  That seems like a high aspiration, but it’s not all up to the leaders at that point.  When we can facilitate opportunities for relationships to happen, we are stepping up the possibility for one more woman to know she is a valued member of the human race.

That’s what it’s all about isn’t it?        Click here to read more...

Sally

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Monday mornings are a big reality check in our house.  My teens may discover that they didn’t get homework done, or enough sleep to function, but they’ll still race into the day.

Hubby & I have been trying to be more consistent about starting the day with breakfast.  Steve Arterburn says it jumpstarts the metabolism, so your body doesn’t think it needs to go into starvation mode for self-preservation.  He also says, “Eating breakfast improves grades and behavior among school children.”  (Lose It for Life, p. 105)

My daughter will eat bacon or sausage if I have it ready, so tomorrow I’m going to let the aroma waft upstairs to see if we can get a kick-start for the day (us moms have to be a little sneaky sometimes to get our kids out of bed!).

Here’s a recipe Roy & I really like:

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

2 (8 oz) cartons lowfat strawberry yogurt (we like to experiment with other flavors too)

½ cup apple juice (orange juice, cranberry juice and grape juice are all excellent options)

2 ripe bananas, cut up

½ cup crushed ice

Combine all ingredients in blender until smooth.  Serve immediately.  3 (1 cup) servings.

                     Pillsbury Classic Cookbooks:  Heart Healthy Recipes, p. 69

Enjoy!

Sally

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Tiger Woods announced his press conference for Friday, during the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.  During the ESPN 10 am show on Thursday, February 18, analysts speculated with the news anchor about Tiger’s reasons for the timing of the conference.  Some thought it was an act of revenge against Accenture for dropping his sponsorship.  One said it wasn’t necessary for Tiger to talk about his marriage, because it’s his private life.  Another said Tiger should be a role model to kids, and say “I made mistakes and you shouldn’t do what I did.” 

Scoop Jackson quoted another thought, “A man is only as faithful as his options.”

Excuse me?  Does that mean, if someone better comes along, it’s okay to hop into bed with them?  That quote came on the heels of Scoop saying “Tiger should publically apologize to his wife, for publically embarrassing her!” 

And then he quotes, “A man is only as faithful as his options.”

And Jalen Rose and Skip Bayless added their two cents about what kind of option that might be.

Whoa.  Back up the horse.  Does this bother anyone else?  What happened to the vows that we all speak on our wedding day…to love, honor and cherish?  In what way does having an affair love, honor or cherish your spouse?!

Has our national moral economy become so bankrupt that we’re more worried about “public embarrassment” than eternal values?

How can we make a difference in our culture?  We can effect our society, one marriage at a time. 

Do you know a couple that is struggling?  Make a difference in that marriage.  Come alongside that couple and equip them to wade through the Tsunamis that broadside them.  Support them.  Pray with them.  Invite them over to dinner.  Babysit their kids on occasion so they can have a date night.  Share your struggles so that they know they’re not alone, and can overcome those hurdles too.

Instead of settling for society’s expectation of the outcome of infidelity and divorce, let’s raise the bar back up to where our commitment began on that wedding day.  Yes, marriage is hard work.  But when we encourage each other, we will become a nation of winners!

Sally

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If you're an entrepreneur like me, you LOVE being a small business owner, but aren't so crazy about coming up with and implementing plans for selling your services. It would be nice to design a program to create consistent cash flow rather than always having to drum up new business, especially when times are hard.

Business coach Ali Brown has developed several tiers of coaching programs that last year brought in $2M. (I’ve been following her emails for several years now, when I found out that she’s The Ezine Queen!)  She's willing to reveal how YOU can expand your coaching base too. She's hosting a complimentary call with the inside scoop on How to Design, Sell, and Run Profitable & Successful Coaching Programs.

Ready to find out more and reserve your free spot? Get all the info here: http://www.mcssl.com/app/aftrack.asp?afid=1138323

On this call, Ali will reveal:

*the most POPULAR types of coaching programs that are in demand right now

*which types of programs are NOT easy to sell right now (don’t waste your time)

*Ali's personal 3 no-fail formulas for various levels of group coaching delivery

*which price points are working well across the board in many industries

*the biggest mistake Ali sees most solo-preneurs make when launching their coaching programs

*hidden DANGERS of continuity (membership) programs, and how to avoid them

*details about Ali's groundbreaking, private Coaching Business Intensive happening this summer, where over two full days Ali will personally walk you through exactly how to design, sell, and run your own profitable programs.

Get all the info for the call on Tuesday, February 23, 8pm Eastern at:

http://www.mcssl.com/app/aftrack.asp?afid=1138323

Come join me on the call!

Sally

P.S. - Feel free to share this call info with your clients and community, but don't forget to reserve your spot first!

What do you get when you cross animation with food?  Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs!  This whimsical movie is packed with food for thought.  Our hero faces many challenges as he tests his latest invention: a rain machine that brings edibles.  Poor self-esteem, peer pressure and greed are all a part of the recipe to disaster.  But in the end, Flint cooks up a formula that gets his neighbors to work together in a surprising twist.

Do you ever feel like poor self-esteem, peer pressure, or greed steal your supper?  We live in the land of plenty, yet find so much to complain about!  We don’t want what we have and yet want what we don’t have.  It seems we’re always looking for the next best thing!  When did we move from worrying about having our needs met, to thinking we deserve to have every whim fulfilled too?

Flint’s town found out that abundance can create complacency.  The Israelites experienced that too.  Their manna burgers, manna loaf, manna dessert and manna pudding lifestyle became routine.  They forgot about the miracle they received and grumbled instead.  Oh, I am so like that.  When the sun shines, I complain because I have to squint.  When it rains, I gripe about the mud.  What will it take for me to be content?  Paul says contentment + godliness = great gain.  Hmmmm.  If I were to commit my wants to God, maybe He would help me to be satisfied with what I have.

For Today, my goal is to look for the blessings in the storm – the sweet smell of rain in the air, the fresh beginning that is sure to come, and the rainbow to remind me of God’s promises.  Then I will thank the Lord, because He will be with me in the storm.

Sally

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On those days when the sun hides and the gloom settles in, do you feel the doldrums settle into your attitude, too?  Our area is notorious for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).  When we’re deprived of the Vitamin D from sunshine for very long, it takes a toll on our emotions.

How do you combat long winter days?  

When the kids were younger, we played in the snow until we turned into snowballs ourselves.  Then we came in and roasted hot dogs in the fireplace.

Now, we just stay in front of the fireplace.  

This week, I’d had enough of the murkiness, and went off to see my hairdresser.  I told her, “When you look out the window and see gray, and look in the mirror and see gray, you know it’s time to do something about some of that gray!”

So, I got highlights again, and it was a nice perk!

The gals at church have been taking a look at our frame of mind, with Jennifer Rothschild’s Me, Myself and Lies.  It’s amazing how negative introspection can affect how I treat myself.    Jennifer reminds us that our words to ourselves can have great influence.  They can poison our confidence, or pick up our self-esteem.

David also experienced that problem.  He said in Psalm 55:2 that he was distraught by his thoughts.  But after he listed all of his troubles, he remembered God’s care.

That’s a good idea on a dismal day; I think it’s time to retrain my thoughts to recall what God thinks about me!

Sally

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Have you watched Clean House on My Style Network?  It’s the show where the crew comes in to pry clutter away from homeowners, sell it at a garage sale, and use that money for a home makeover.  A recent episode depicted a woman with multiple health problems, her son with multiple Nintendo addictions, and their house with multiple clutter mayhem.  Producer Niecy Nash asked her routine question, “What’s your excuse for living like this?”

Good question!  The answers never veer too far away from “It’s too hard to delegate,” or “It’s easier to do it myself than to teach someone else to do it,” or “I don’t know where to start!”

Most times, people just need a plan.  When everyone is in agreement with that plan, then progress can gain momentum.  Niecy gives the family an assignment and sends them off on respite before the Big Reveal Day.  The homework is to literally decide how to divvy out the home-work.  Who will clean the table?  Who will sweep the floor?  Who will wash the dishes?  Who will do a load of laundry? 

When projects are specific, the results will also be specific.

Over the years, we’ve tried sticker chore charts, rewards and pro-rated allowance for chores done.  As Niecy says, “We’re preparing our children for adulthood, to know how to take care of themselves when they’re out on their own.”  We still haven’t found the perfect solution, but most days, we’re heading in the right direction toward our own “Clean House!”

Sally

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Do you struggle with knowing what to do, when your child makes choices that tear you up inside? 

I resonate with Lysa's answer, and reminder to suit up for battle.  You can read her post here.

Remember, we're in this war together!

Sally

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For a year, I’ve been involved in a Lose It For Life small group.  The desire to exercise has come and gone.  Eating habits have varied.  But, you know what clicked last week?  When Roy said we could “eat a big breakfast, have a moderate lunch, and eat like a bird for supper.”  Why did that connect the dots for me?  I’ve tried reading, watching, starving, stuffing and exercising.  But someone gives me permission to eat a big breakfast, and I’m hooked?  That’s nuts, but if it works, I’ll take it!  Now I’ve exercised 14 days in a row, my slacks don’t squeeze the breath out of me, and I’m sleeping better at night.  Why now?  Maybe it’s just that eating habits have to be a lifetime of choices, and require perseverance.  And perseverance means never giving up when you want to quit caring.  So, I hope my renewed motivation will help you too!  Never, never, never give up!

Sally

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Call a friend!  Friends can bring a respite into your day by affirming this phase of life you’re in and restoring your sense of humor.  Who doesn’t need to take herself so seriously?  The stressors of everyday living can build up until we think we’ll pop.  But sharing them with a friend can put them in a different light.  When I’m fuming mad and relate a mishap to my parents, they start snickering until their laughter turns into guffaws.  And I realize once again that life is funny.

Share a project with a friend.  A companion makes the time go faster when you have a big job looming at you.  You can clean each others’ houses together… one mops, one vacuums.  You both win by having clean floors for your babies to crawl on!  How about making meals together?  Both families benefit from your cooking adventures, and meal prep is lightened for the cooks.  Consider Naomi and Ruth’s journey to Bethlehem.  What could have been a long and lonely trek must have become an adventure.  I can picture them singing silly songs to each other just to while away the hours of walking.  Or maybe they counted the number of camels they saw go by?

Open your heart.  When you give the gift of being a good listener, you will reap the benefits of finding someone who will also care about your needs.  Take time to study people.  Personalities differ, but we’re all cut from the same cloth.  We may have different child-rearing techniques, but we’re still trying to raise our children to the best of our abilities.  And we can learn from one another while the kids play at a McDonald’s playland or grocery shopping together.  Be a shoulder to cry on and a friend who will help celebrate baby-steps!

Whether you make a phone call, share a mountainous project, or become vulnerable to someone else, you can find an oasis in your day when you entrust part of it to a friend.  What are you waiting for?  Go cultivate a friend!

Sally

Writers’ Conferences happen all over the country, through every season.  But the time to start planning your trip begins now.  Hypothetically speaking, imagine your great aunt leaves you $1,000.00 with the stipulation that it be used for a Writers’ Retreat.  You’ve got one week to decide, and the trip has to happen in this fiscal year.  What would you choose?  And why?  Be sure to leave links to your choice so the rest of us can decide if we agree!

Have fun choosing!

Sally

“What is home?”

Our class had a variety of answers; places remembered from the past, or an ideal set apart for our families.  But all I could think about was a feeling.  “You know that feeling you get on Christmas Eve?  When everyone’s in bed, asleep, and everything’s done that can possibly be done?  All that’s needed at that moment is to reflect on The Day to come, and gaze at the lights on the tree.”

That’s my picture of “home.”

Anne Graham Lotz talks about our heavenly home in The Vision of His Glory.  She says the glassy streets of gold will reflect God’s glory with every step that we take.  We will not only have access to the Presence of God (as the Israelites experienced through the priest entering the Tabernacle), but we’ll live in the Presence of God.

No, we are not home yet.  But Jesus is preparing it with painstaking detail, just like a mom would get ready for her college student to come home on break.  Anne reminds us that favorite meals would be prepared, activities planned and phone calls made saying, “My daughter is coming home!”

I can’t wait for my heavenly home!

Sally