“Music can change the world because it can change people.” – Bono Music is powerful Here’s something I’ve been re-learning recently: music is powerful. I mean, I’ve known this for years. And I’m not the only one. Research has told us that music: Reduces pain and anxiety. Relieves stress. Improves memory. Helps aid brain injury recovery (like strokes). In fact, several years ago I worked with a client that was focused on music therapy. If you do a quick Google search, you’ll see that this type of therapy can help improve communication, promote physical rehabilitation, enhance memory, alleviate pain, and
Category: Mom Life
Posts that are about life as a mom: parenting, kids, exhaustion, making friends, mom hacks, and more. Moms have a lot going on; so does this category.
I’ve been thinking about my choices lately. Do they reflect what I say is important to me? What do they show as important to those around me? What examples are they setting for my kids? My choices, good or bad, will guide my kids in the choices they make, too. Choices Deal in Either Life or Death I was struck by something Richard Dahlstrom wrote in his book, The Map Is Not The Journey . On pages 83-84 he wrote: [While hiking the Alps] I learned . . . that nearly every choice I face deals in either life or
This started as some thoughts from Thanksgiving, but as I wrote them down, they kept expanding. I feel so grateful for what God has done in my life; it’s more than I asked for, more than I could have imagined, and more than I deserve. Thank you . . . For my three little blessings, who make me laugh, think, wonder, learn, and cry. For the man I’ve grown alongside for more than 14 years, who keeps loving, respecting, encouraging, challenging, and teasing me—even when I don’t deserve it. For our parents, who keep offering us wisdom, insight, and encouragement
Looking back Sometimes I miss the past. Running around outside, playing with the other neighborhood kids. Softball tournaments. Marching band competitions. Youth group. Common ground. College life, living with my friends and no “real adults.” The inside jokes among friends that stayed up until the wee hours of the morning together. The thrill of the boy I liked looking in my direction. The first time he also showed interest in me, asked me out on a date, held my hand. The first kiss. A party with all our friends to celebrate the most significant words I’ve ever promised in public.
Sometimes I really don’t like my limitations. I want to do everything I want to do, and I don’t want limitations like the number of hours in the day getting in my way. It’s like I think that if I want something enough, it won’t take any time at all. I’ve been thinking about this lately while ruminating on what Duffy Robbins said this year at Mount Hermon : Discipleship is a magnificent ‘yes’ wrapped up in significant ‘no’s. Defining discipleship Discipleship comes back to your relationship with Jesus. Who do you say he is? Duffy read Luke 9:18-26 ,
I’ve been working on praying. I’ve always felt comfortable going to God with requests, but as I shared in a previous post, lately I’ve been trying to be more consistent and deliberate as I pray . Lately I’ve been trying to view them as daily one-on-ones rather than reactions to whatever circumstances I find myself in. This was a topic we covered Ephesians 3:14-21 at church on May 15 . In this sermon, Pastor Matt suggested hiding from those you live with to hang out with God and pray (watch at 32:29–34:58 ). Some of you might be thinking, I
As my kids have been getting older, I’ve been thinking about ways I can help them identify the truth in a world of half-truths and confusing misinformation. Pray for them The biggest thing I can do is prioritize praying for them . God doesn’t want them to believe the world’s lies either, and He knows what they’re hearing all the time, everywhere. I’m trying to trust that He’ll prepare them for whatever they’ll need, just like I’ve seen Him prepare me for situations that I never could have anticipated. And one of the ways I can build that trust is
We live in a culture that tells us to “cancel” those we disagree with and hold angry grudges against those who wrong us. But holding grudges is bad for our health. As Rene Schlaepfer pointed out in Chasing David : A 2019 report in the Journal of Psychology and Aging found that holding grudges is dangerous to your health. Remaining in the state of anger is associated with chronic inflammation and other illnesses. The effects intensifies with age; in other words, the longer you hold a grudge, the sicker you get (page 113). What Jesus Said About Forgiveness Jesus talked
I originally posted this on my previous blog, My Life Commentary , when my first child was 9 months old. It was encouraging to see how much I’ve grown since being a new mom 9 years ago. I still have a lot of questions about what’s around the corner and what life will look like as she and my other two kids continue to grow, but the reassurance from God has grown as well! I’ve seen Him equip me in ways I never could have imagined, and have no doubt He’ll continue to prepare me for what’s coming around the
It’s easy to feel like who you are gets lost in your role as Mom. It can feel all-consuming–especially at certain stages–to the point that you wonder if you even have an identity outside these little people that are completely dependent on you. I think that leaves some of us wonder, who am I? I don’t have time for hobbies. My friends’ calendars never sync up with mine. Chances are I’m working, feeding my kids, cleaning my house, or mindlessly sitting in front of the TV–too tired to do anything productive, but not wanting to give into sleep yet because