365 Days – Days 71-77

Living in the moment…

Day 71 – joy in son’s freedom from passing driving test

Day 72– fear turned to trust – teaching children to do same

Day 73 – unique son plugging into area

Day 74 – hubby and I reflecting on month and all that the Lord has done - Blessed

Day 75 – yard work – hard work – working together

Day 76 – hubbies participation at church – post it notes of thanks

Day 77 – celebrations – family game time

How to Live in the MomentHow to Helps

Warnings

• Living in the moment doesn't mean you shouldn't care about the future, or do reckless, irresponsible things. It means that when you make a choice to do something, you focus on actually doing it, rather than letting your mind dwell on the future (or past).

http://www.wikihow.com/Live-in-the-Moment

This is an important reminder and one that a planner like me needs to hear.  Planning helps me to be able to slow down and rest in those moments when they come.

I want to rest in everyday moments – whether I am watching and seeing them happen or actively participating in them.

Resting in everyday moments~

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365 Days – Days 64 -70

Living in the moment…

Day 64 – enjoying driving again

Day 65– abundance of vehicles – vehicle that passed smog and is registered

Day 66 – school back on track – enjoying routine

Day 67 – resting in others help – knowing giving son has place to rely on

Day 68 – hubby enjoying watering the lawn and just resting in You again

Day 69 – watching unique son mentor another young man

Day 70 –hubby having purpose again and JOY

How to Live in the MomentHow to Helps

Tips

• Listen to music and enjoy it. Express yourself by dancing to it or singing along.
• Participate in active conversation and engage in the subject matter with another human.
• Forgive. Many of us carry grudges with us that haunt us, and those grudges also prevent us from opening our hearts to others because we're scared of getting hurt again.
• Children don't worry about the future; they play and enjoy every moment for what it is. They haven't yet learned to think ahead, or mull over the past, so take the opportunity to learn from them.
• Watch your breath, by noticing your breathing pattern your mind naturally quiets and pays more attention to the present moment.
• Think about how happy your good deed could make someone!

http://www.wikihow.com/Live-in-the-Moment

enjoying those daily moments~

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Looking Forward

   
“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
-C.S. Lewis
Reflecting on 20 years of living in this house…
     that became a home,
              to a family of 4,
                 the traditional American dream,
                      of a boy and a girl.
      
a place that grew with us,
         through the addition of 6 more,
                 no longer that traditional American dream,
                       but God’s desire for this family,
                            and a fulfillment of a deeper hearts desire -
                                   more than we even knew possible.

I reflect on the memories…
    the joys and the sorrows 
         the gains and the losses
               the victories and the battles
                       the triumphs and the trials
                               the blessings and the hardships

the joys always outweighing the sorrows,
   the gains out numbering the losses,
       the victories winning far more battles,
          the triumphs overcoming the trials,
                the blessings overshadowing the hardships,
                                     Memories full…  Growth immeasurable.
Yet I am reminded…
There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.
I look forward to all He has for us in this new place…
This new season, as we enter our "Promise Land."

Keeping my eyes focused on the one who is our prize.

Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.  Proverbs 4:25

looking forward~

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365 Days – Days 57-63

 






Living in the moment…


Day 57 – Valentines decorations and games set up by my angel and little one.
Day 58 – learning lessons the hard way – but humility in the learning
Day 59 – house becoming a home – step by step
Day 60 – keys turned in – not looking back
Day 61 – prayers and reflection in that rocking chair
Day 62 – morning devotions and reflection time
Day 63 – special places and nesting places

How to Live in the MomentHow to Helps

7. Be thankful for what is.
When you find yourself wishing for something you don't have, or wishing your life would be different, start your quest for your wish by being thankful for what is already in your life. This will bring you back to the present moment. Make a list of what you are thankful for right now, even if all you can think of is that you are alive and can breathe. You don't want to miss the gifts right in front of you, because you are always looking beyond what is in the present moment to what once was or what might be. If you are thankful for what is, you'll be happy to be in the moment – instead of dreaming about being happy someplace else.
  Our 2012 List of events and things we were thankful for.
http://www.wikihow.com/Live-in-the-Moment

living everyday moments~
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365 Days – Days 50-56

Living in the moment…

Day 50 – husbands happiness

Day 51 – playing sorry game with sick girls all wrapped up in blankets

Day 52 – worship music throughout the house – healing words heard by little one

Day 53 – sitting on bench with special son praying before school

Day 54 – sitting in my rocking chair again (love that rocker)

Day 55 – double blessings in cars

Day 56 – car with cd player!!!!

How to Live in the MomentHow to Helps

6. Minimize activities that dull your awareness of the moment.

What are you doing that tempts your mind to run away from the present? For most people, watching television puts you in a passive state of mind, and time slips right by. Daydreaming and getting lost in a good movie or book isn't bad, but it's not living in the moment because it places your concentration on something that isn't right here, right now; it's a form of escapism. Don't zone out; zone in. Do things that are active, and that encourage you to look around and engage the world in that moment. Gardening, playing a game, knitting, and playing an instrument are all activities that lend themselves to mindfulness. So get off the computer after reading this article!

    

• Choose at least one day a week to turn off your cell phone, your computer, your radio, your TV, and whatever other gadgets you use to distract yourself. Spend that day riding your bike to a café, gardening, having a friend over for tea, drawing something you see out the window, or exploring a new area of your town or city.
• Narrow down your absolute favorite shows, write them into your schedule, and only turn on the TV at those times. Like to nod off to late-night television? Try herbal tea instead. Channel-surf when you’re bored? Get a hobby. Watch game-shows during dinner? Cook yourself something special and savor every bite of it.

http://www.wikihow.com/Live-in-the-Moment

Enjoy your everyday moments

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365 Days – Days 43-49

Living in the moment…

Day 43 – husbands joy in giving

Day44– painting and preparation

Day 45 – home owner’s perfect date night - Lowes

Day 46 – excitement in moving forward – resting in details

Day 47 – moving day - tired achy body – but good pain

Day 48 – husband singing “we are free at last”

Day 49 – thoughtful gift from giving son – daughters help and presence (miss her)

How to Live in the MomentHow to Helps

5. Commit random, spontaneous acts of kindness.

Whether it's donating 1 dollar to a fund at the pharmacy, picking up litter, or helping victims of natural disasters, keep alert in every moment of your day for some way in which you can make the world a better place. Even the smallest thing, like complimenting someone, can bring joy. It's the most spontaneous and unexpected acts of kindness that produce the greatest impact, and you can't be sensitive to those kinds of opportunities unless you're living in the moment.

~ Have an old or sick neighbor who doesn’t get many visitors? Stop by with some cookies, a pot of coffee, or a jug of lemonade. If it’s someone who won’t let you leave once they’ve got your attention, dig in and enjoy their stories. People are a lot more interesting than you think.

For more ideas or resources to practice a life of kindness check out:

http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/

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Taco Soup

 

 TACO SOUP

Cooks.com

Ingredients:
2 lbs. hamburger or ground turkey
1 chopped onion
2 cans diced or Mexican tomatoes, with juice
2 cans pinto beans, kidney beans or black beans with juice (optional)
1 can of black olives (sliced)
2 cans  corn, with juice
1 pkg. taco mix seasoning
1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix

Brown hamburger or ground turkey meat with chopped onion. Drain off fat. Add tomatoes, pinto beans and corn (all with juice). Add dry taco mix and dry Ranch dressing mix. Bring all to boil, reduce heat and simmer on low heat.  This can be made in the crock pot and cooked on low for 4 –6 hours or on high for 2 –4 hours.  Serve with bread or corn bread. 

I will add the beans if I have them, but we like it really well without them.  I like to add the beans if I want it to be more like a chili or if I want to serve it over pasta - which is a great option for leftovers.    Fun additions would be:  taco chips, nacho chips, Fritos, cheese, sour cream, green onions. 

I am all about easy, cost effective, good and hearty meals for my family the above recipes fit the bill.

Enjoy~

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365 Days – Days 36-42

Living in the moment…

Day 36 – Tax returns - provision

Day 37 – God’s perfect timing

Day 38 – Signing papers – Joy of ownership

Day 39 – excitement of getting keys – trusting again

Day 40 – worship – your presence

Day 41 – Gods abundant blessings through friends

Day 42 – being able to say “It’s ours”

How to Live in the MomentHow to Helps

4. Smile when you wake up.

You can set the tone of appreciation and awareness for the next 24 hours by simply waking up and smiling

• Visualize all the good things that are going to happen to you today. Got a presentation to give? Imagine the laughs you’ll get for your jokes and the ovation you’ll receive at the end. Got a busy day of cleaning? Imagine how good it’ll feel to sit down with a delicious tea and admire your cozy living space when it’s all done.

http://www.wikihow.com/Live-in-the-Moment

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Praise Him in the hallway

In June of 2012 we put an offer on a house… 
   the weekend of our anniversary…
         27 years of marriage…
            27 years of renting…

27 years of waiting…
      for an opportunity to own something that would meet our families needs.

                      27 years of Praising Him in the hallway.

Those years have been filled with blessings, growth, memories and lots of love…

  
today we opened the door…
         and entered in,
               to our new home.                 

                    Praising Him
                        with every breath.

Resting in His plans~

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365 Days – Days 29 - 35

Living in the moment…

 

Day 29 – excitement of 4 hour loan approval turnaround

Day 30 – teaching special son to breath deep – self control

Day 31 – hearts of protecting sons

Day 32 – reflections of 20 years of growth in a home

Day 33 – aimlessly looking through isles of store alone (no kids)

Day 34 – quietness of the morning

Day 35 – resting in moments of un-motivation and being ok with it

How to Live in the MomentHow to Helps

3. Focus on whatever you're doing.

Even if you're just walking, or wiping the counter, or shuffling cards—how does it feel? There's probably some kind of commentary spinning through your mind, and it probably has to do with something other than what you're doing. Let those thoughts go and focus on what is (not what was, or what could be). 

• Just breathe. When the moment begins to escape you, as it will certainly try to do, breathe. Take a very deep breath, through your nose, as deep as you can. Listen to the air moving into your body, and feel your lungs swell. Breathe out slowly through your mouth, letting the air escape on its own.
• Pay attention to your other senses—touch, sight, smell, sound, and taste. Pretend it's the very last time you'll ever experience whatever you're experiencing. Have you ever been so engrossed in something that it seemed like the rest of the world just disappeared? Living in the moment is about creating that state of mind at any time. Slow down, and try to savor the present.
• Listen to the world. The birds, the sounds of one car passing, the conversations of distant strangers, the cracks and creaks of the building as it heats and cools, the planes overhead, the footsteps of passers-by. The moment is all around you.

 

I love people watching.  I find it fascinating.

linking to:

inserts from: http://www.wikihow.com/Live-in-the-Moment

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