Typing My Heart Out: The Challenge to Blog Everyday

As if committing myself to J.illian Michael's 30 Day Shred a few weeks ago wasn't enough, now I've gone and signed up for National Blog Posting Month. I'll be blogging everyday for the month of November. Nothing like a good challenge to get the blood flowing right?

So come back every day starting November 1 and see what I'm sharing. I've created an editorial calendar but it will be interesting to see if inspiration strikes and what comes out.

How Discovering My Kids' Learning Style Stopped the Homework Battle

This kid here is a mover and a shaker. If you were to meet him in person, he'd most likely give you a hand shake and a hug. He's a touchy feely kind of guy, much like his dad. I thought it was just an inherited trait that meant he was affectionate, but I've recently discovered it goes beyond that.

Helping him with first grade homework has been frustrating for us both lately. I couldn't understand why at first. I'd always had great success helping my oldest son. He's much like me--a visual learner. That's when I realized that my first grader is very much unlike me. His learning style is altogether different. So I did some research to see what his learning style is and how best to approach him. 

The three basic learning styles are:

Visual learners: They learn by watching. They use images to remember, creating a picture in their heads. To learn spelling, for example, they may picture the way a word looks.

Visual learners may also: Enjoy art and drawing, read maps, charts and diagrams well, like mazes and puzzles

Auditory learners:  Auditory learners benefit from traditional teaching techniques. They learn well when directions are read aloud or information is presented and requested verbally. They remember facts when presented in a poem, song or melody. 

Auditory learners also like: To tell stories and jokes, To play word games, To use tape recorders

Kinesthetic learners learn best through movement and physical manipulation. They like to find out how things work and want to touch, feel and experience what they are being asked to learn. Most kindergartners are physical learners, but by second or third grade their learning styles may change to visual or auditory. However, half of all students in high school and beyond remain kinesthetic learners.

Physical learners may also: Need to manipulate, handle and try things out, Have a short attention span, Show you things rather than telling you about them.

I've discovered that my middle child is a kinesthetic learner. And I realize I've been sabotaging his learning because he wants to just do it and get his hands on it, but I want to show him first and do it for him. No wonder we were both frustrated.

Armed with this information, here's how I'll be helping my little tactile learner better. I'll let him:

• Read aloud and track words on a page with a finger

• Write things down multiple times to commit them to memory

• Highlight and underline information

• Play with a stress ball or toy while studying

• Move around or take frequent breaks

• Do hands-on activities, such as building models or playing games

If you have a visual learner, they learn best from seeing information on a chalkboard or in an illustration and may grow impatient listening for long periods of time. Strategies for visual learners include:

• Using flash cards

• Studying charts, tables, and maps

• Drawing illustrations

• Writing things down and reviewing notes

• Highlighting and underlining

• Color-coding information

  Auditory learners are typically good at absorbing information from spoken words. Strategies that work well for auditory learners include:

• Talking to themselves or with others about what they’re learning

• Reciting important information aloud, perhaps recording it and playing it back

• Reading a book and listening to the audio book at the same time

• Using word associations

• Setting information to a tune and singing it to help remember it

• Limiting distracting noises

I'm so glad the light bulb went off early in the school year. And I'm already watching my two-year-old to see where she stands when it comes to her learning style.

Parenting is more than just raising kids, it's understanding how they are wired so we can lead them wisely. Here's to happy parenting!

Gettin' My Martha Stewart On: Pick a Pinterest Project (Gallery Wall)

Been wanting to put up a gallery wall display In the living room for months now.

I'd had a stack of photos taken down from a wall in the den when I rearranged the furniture and the TV took up the photo wall. I'd also had some items I'd bought from H.ome G.oods but never put up. All of this stuff was just stacked in a corner collecting dust. Shame! So this weekend, I just decided to tackle it.

Being the A-type personality that I am, I had to have some structure to the gallery wall, so I lined the photos up based on a wide strip of tape between the top and bottom row of pictures. Then I taped up paper templates to map out where I wanted to hang everything. I labeled each sheet so I'd know where to hang what. Such a time saver. I also put a strip of tape between each photo so the spacing would be the same.  I'm notorious for banging numerous holes in the wall trying to hang things. This time, I used a strip of tape to measure out the hole. 

After some swapping out on the layout, I finally hung everything. I noticed the colors lean too much on the brown side after  hanging, so I'll be doing some more swapping out, but I'm just happy to finally have everything up. Most of the photos are old, so I'll be choosing some news ones as well. 

The "M" on canvas is a Pinterest project I've been wanting to do since I stumbled across it earlier this year. I had to sort of free hand the letter because I couldn't get it blown up to the dimensions I wanted when printing it out.  It took about an hour and half and about 400 thumbtacks. Easy and I'm quite pleased with the results. And the best part: it only cost about $10 to do.

he made me a mommy...

And I'm wishing my husband/baby daddy/man crush a very happy birthday today.

ChrisBday from NONSuperwoman on Vimeo.

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how my mornings got a make-over

I am not a morning person. At all.

I'm a classic night owl. I come alive in the  night life. That's when I have energy and my creativity surges.

But with kids, I have to be a morning person. I rise before them so that I'll be awake and somewhat ready as they start their day. This makes for a very early morning for me. I struggle with pushing snooze....multiple times, reading the Bible while I'm still groggy and finding words to pray when I'm not yet ready for the world.

Recently, I chanced upon this interview with Steffany Gretzinger, a worship singer and songwriter. In it, she talked about overcoming creative block, self doubt and her morning success habit: Morning Pages. I was so intrigued that I Googled it. I thought maybe it would help me since I'm a writer by trade and have to consistently be creative at work. I felt like I'd hit a bit of a roadblock.

Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning made famous by Julia Cameron in her book The Artist's Way. I tried it and am shocked at how it's transformed my mornings.

I keep a journal and pen on my nightstand. First thing I do when I wake up at 5:30 a.m. and am still in bed is start writing whatever crosses my mind: prayers, dreams, random thoughts, complaints, laments. This brain dump clears my mind and I actually feel ready to start my day when I hop out of the bed. I've even noticed how the process of writing gently wakes me up. It's crazy how something so simple has changed my  mornings from a bit of a dread to manageable. I take about 15 minutes to write out 2-3 pages. After that, I read one (and only one) verse of scripture very, very slowly instead of trying to digest a long stretch of a Bible passage. Then, I turn on worship music until it's time to wake the kids up. Such an easy start to the morning, rather than jolting out of bed because I've pushed snooze too many times.

Here are some of the benefits that I've found to writing Morning Pages:

• I'm less anxious. With all the crazy, hectic first-thing-in-the-morning thoughts on papers, my mind is free from all that was swimming in my head.
• I listen better. I didn't realize how my jumbled mind was blocking out God's gentle early morning whispers. Revelation has come from emptying my heart and mind on paper. I've also been more patient with the kids in the mornings and their non-stop conversations with me.
• Creativity is free to flow. Got a few good ideas that popped up. I guess I'd stopped them up with all the random thoughts that were crammed in my head.

I have yet to read over the pages I've written. Maybe a few more days or weeks down the road I'll be ready. But for now I'm just content with writing out my early Morning Pages.

What do your mornings look like?

Why Moms (and Other Regular People) Need Standing Ovations

I've made it to Friday! I'm celebrating this fact because it's been a hard and downright tiring week. With all that I've done this week, I deserve a standing ovation. Of course, I don't do what I do for accolades, but I was thinking this morning that just one accolade would be nice. 

Celebrities are used to applause. I'm sure B.eyonce and other performers are accustomed to the roar and whistles of adoring crowds. While, well-deserved, us regular folk need to hear the deafening applause of a standing ovation.

This week alone, I've juggled bad attitude, tantrums, dinner, packing lunch, combing, brushing and braiding the thick hair of my daughter, coordinating wardrobes, overseeing laundry and housecleaning, braved Los Angeles traffic, managed a budget at home and work. I've refereed a number of sibling fights (as early at 7:00 a.m.) and made sure that snacks were packed for hungry little kids who arrive in the car starving after school pick-up. All of this is only the tip of the iceberg.

I think of my husband, who works a full-time job and then heads to the kickboxing gym he owns where he teaches classes whether he's tired or not. He has to welcome new customers, field phone calls, handle the finances, make sure the bathrooms are clean and various other duties. That dude deserves a standing ovation at the end of every day.

Then there's my friend Kelli, pregnant with her third child while homeschooling two others. She and her husband had to move an entire household all while she was on bedrest. Yes, she deserves a standing ovation. There are friends juggling their own households while taking care of aging parents and some who are even sick themselves while trying to keep it all afloat.

Every single one of them deserves a round of applause, a bouquet of flowers placed in their arms and people standing on their feet to acknowledge how they have poured out every bit of themselves this week. 

Sadly, many of us will go about our daily duties without so much as a thank you. Many of us go about our life's work with little appreciation or thanks. But know that you are seen. Your works don't go unnoticed. Your children appreciate your effort and love even when they don't act like it. And of course, God knows and sees. 

So count this post as your standing ovation. If you know of someone who may need a pat on the back, hug or a round of applause give it to them. You never know how that will cheer them on and keep them going.

october 2014: currently

Enjoying: The Project Life App. I've always wanted to do project life, however with three kids and a job outside the home, time isn't on my side to scrapbook. With all the photos on my phone, it's easy to create a page. Once I get enough for an album, I plan to print them up and put them a scrapbook album. (Thanks to my friend Rachelle for this tip!) I've noticed how much the kids enjoy flipping through my old photo albums so I know they'll enjoy these. 

(Feed and email readers: click here if the above image doesn't show up).

Doing: the Lifeway's Kids Bible Studies for Life as our evening family Bible study. Surprised how much the kids love it. A few nights I skipped it because I was so tired and the boys were disappointed. We'll be keeping this one up. 

Feeling: A bit sore but exhilarated. I'm on day 11 of Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. I've been sick of gaining weight and ill-fitting clothes for too long now so I finally decided to do something about it. I'm on level 2 of her workout and boy is it a doozy. I took my measurements at the beginning and don't see much of a change. I plan to compare my measurements and weight at the end of the 30 days. One thing I do notice is that my pants aren't so painfully uncomfortable around my belly now. 

Reading...:  or just read Steve Jobs Best Productivity Tips.

Wanting: the iPhone 6. 'Nuff said. 

Listening to: Steffany Gretzinger's The Undoing non-stop. And Danny Gokey's Hope In Front Of Me is my new favorite song. Seriously inspiring and so is his back story. 

Watching: KevOnStage's YouTube channel. He shares some pretty funny stuff. Clean and Christian.

I Don't Want to be That Mom Who Stands on the Sidelines

Aging is a crazy thing. Lately, I've been finding myself saying, "I don't do that anymore" to a myriad of things like: riding roller coasters, wearing shorts & bathing suits, and other ridiculous things.

Yesterday, we spent the day at Newport Beach. I usually wear a casual summer dress or a tank top and capri-like pants...but I stepped out of my fear box and wore a bathing suit (one that I've had for years with the tags still on it). And tried my hand at boogie boarding. I had set up in my mind that I was too old, too pudgy, too (fill in the blank) to do such things. I'm trying to figure out when I put myself in a box. I guess that doesn't matter much. What's most important is that I work on getting out.

I never really thought I'd be like this at my age. When I was younger, I was more apt to take risks and just do things afraid. I was the girl who went to college clear across the country, then packed up my bags and moved to Los Angeles. The girl who would attend movie premieres alone without fear or insecurity. The girl who would jump in her car and drive until I got lost and then explore the city (and this all without GPS).

Somewhere along the way I fell into this mommy mode. I found myself sitting on the sidelines watching my kids do things and rooting them on instead of participating. Yesterday, was a good example for me that age and mommyhood and a bigger waistline don't have to make me feel like I'm just relegated to the sidelines. No, I'm not a size 6 anymore and no I don't have the desire to ride the scariest roller coasters all day, but that doesn't mean every falls into the  "I can't category." It felt good to put on my I-will-try-it hat. My kids weren't concerned that their mom didn't look like a supermodel. Instead, they'll remember me running along the beach with them, throwing a frisbee and just being involved with them. 

Maybe you have put yourself (or parts of yourself) in an altogether different box. Perhaps you're in a geographic box or a financial box or a cultural box. It's never to let to break out....even if it's a small step like getting on that boogie board and at least trying. 

Impressing God's Word on Little Hearts

As mommas, we are careful to teach our kids while they're young.

We teach them to brush their teeth. Wash behind their ears. Ties their shoes. Chew with their mouths closed. We teach them to say please and thank you. We do our best to equip for the world.

I realized I was going to great lengths to teach them all I could about how to navigate this big world they'll soon be facing on their own, but I was neglecting the most necessary thing: the Word of God.

Before baby girl was born, I would spend time in the Bible with the boys. But three kids + a tired momma soon squeezed out any extra energy I had for walking with them through the Bible. That is until I got a quiet nudging from the Holy Spirit recently.

Deuteronomy 6: 4-9: 

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.

My kids go to a Christian school, but it's not the school's responsibility to teach MY children about the Word. We got to church every week, but it's not on the church to be the primary teacher of my children about God. Our role as parents is to impress God's word upon our children's heart.

Sure, we can wait until they get older and let them decide for themselves, but that's not what the Bible requires. Waiting means the impressionable years would have since passed and getting that Word on their hearts is not such an easy task then.

I believe we are to impress the Word on our children's hearts when they're young because that's when it will make its mark best. I think about all the Play Doh that the boys have played with down through the years. New Play Doh is so lovely. It's soft and moldable in your hands. A joy to play with. They would mold the clay in their hands and then stamp it with designs or carve smiles on Play Doh people. Down the line, the new Play Doh would get left out, the tops not put on tightly resulting in dry, hard balls of clay. Hard to mold and carve Play Doh when it's old. It's mostly just a crumbly mess that has to be tossed. 

I see my kids hearts like that new Play Doh: pliable and totally ready for the Word of God.  This is is why I'm taking every effort to impress it upon their little hearts right now.

So every night before bed, this tired momma pulls out the Bible, gathers the little people and we walk through the Scriptures as they are read aloud. And last night, wouldn't you know what our Bible verses were? Deuteronomy 6: 4-9. Just a little confirmation that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing.

And as I asked the boys what this verse meant to them, my oldest recited word for word a New Testament verse that supported what we were studying.

My making an impression is not in vain. And our time together has become a welcome part of their day.

I'm making it my business to walk and talk the Word of God not just during our evening Bible study but also when we're sitting at home and when we are riding in the car. When we wake up and as we get ready for bed. I want their roots to run deep and for them to have a genuine love for God's Word....not just on Sundays (or Saturday nights which is when we go to church). I want the Bible to be woven into their every day lives.