Z is for Zzzzzzzz

In other words, rest.

The other day, we had little C for the afternoon, and we kept him pretty busy once he got up from his nap. A trip to the local park was in order. This included a longish walk down the hill to the soccer field, and back up again. This little guy loves to run around and climb up and down hills. I think we tired him out!

As we were driving him home after supper, I noticed him rubbing his eyes and yawning at least four times in a span of 10 minutes.  Usually he has a second wind after supper, but not this time!

When he arrived home 20 minutes later, he was quiet and his eyes looked to only be half open. His mommy asked him if he wanted a story and he nodded yes. His usual habit of hugging and kissing everyone good night wasn't going to happen this time. He took his mommy's hand and without so much as a look in our direction, he disappeared into his bedroom. Now, that's TIRED! 

We all need rest. 

What do we need rest from? We need rest from being hurt, rest from our heavy labors, and rest from our fast-paced world. We need rest from the speed of change, rest from our jobs, and rest from information overload. 

Sleeth, Matthew. 24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life (p. 75). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

And now that I've completed the A-Z Blogging Challenge for 2019, I might take a little rest from this blog! Thanks for reading!

Y is for Youth

Being around little people once again has brought such a fullness to my life. What is it about being around the young? What is the attraction of childlikeness?

Young children have such a 'joie de vivre'  and who doesn't want that?  They have energy. They live life in the present, without worry of the future. They aren't afraid to ask questions, to think, and to explore. They find joy in small things. They aren't afraid to make mistakes.

Spending time with my grandson brings back so many memories of when I was a young mom. My heart was full and I found so much joy in simply watching my children learn and enjoy life. They were so dependent on us, their parents.  To give myself to their growth and development, to focus on their happiness and health instead of just my own, expanded my life. We are meant to share and love and live in community and family says it best, I think. 

I don't want to forget what it means to be a child, and thankfully, the gift of grandchildren will remind me! 

Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty...Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.
~Franz Kafka

X is for eXpectancy

My grandchild's eyes light up when he knows he's heading for a ride in the car or for a walk outdoors. He might not know exactly what's going to happen (and he has no control over where he's being taken), but he is still excited about the adventure ahead. He may not have a lot of expectations in his young life, but expectancy is something he has in spades.

Expectations are about what you think will likely or even specifically happen. They often lead to disappointment. 

Expectancy is about anticipation. That's another word I really love. I used to have a little sticky note with ANTICIPATE! written on it. It reminded me that when life throws curve balls, and I felt little control,  I could trust and take comfort, especially when believing that God is near and knows the whole story, beginning, middle, and end. Expectancy says "I don't know what's going to happen, but I believe it will be good". 

I'd like to be have less expectation and more expectancy. How about you?

W is for Wonder

One of the biggest joys in having grandchildren to see the world through the eyes of a child again. When little C declares "Wow!!!", he is in wonder!

That's why I love to go on walks with my grandson outside and inside. I encourage him to (safely) touch and explore the world around him, whether it's a house plant leaf, a picture frame, a little dog, a blade of grass, muffin batter, ducks at the bird sanctuary, leaves on a tree, a new playground,  or a rock collection sitting in a bowl on the coffee table. He is fascinated by everything! Everything is new to him.

I hope he hangs onto his sense of wonder. I hope to encourage that. I think it starts with making time to see.

As I get older, I am realizing the joys of slowing down and really seeing things. Rushing less, enjoying more. Driving in the slow lane, looking at the houses as I drive by. Spending time browsing in a book store, instead of feeling pressured to find that book and leave.

I love to go for walks. I used to always pop earbuds in, but now when I head out, I focus more on looking and listening. I rarely take my phone anymore. I want to meditate, ponder, and wonder.

Life is so full of distractions and busyness. It seems inevitable that we will lose our sense of wonder as we grow up. But is it?

How do you regain or strengthen your sense of wonder?

V is for Victory

When Little C accomplishes a task, he does not hesitate to clap his hands and cry out "Yay!!!"  Whether it's fitting that wooden puzzle piece into the correct location, or putting all the toys away, or completing the table setting with Oma, his victories get us all excited for him. It's fun to see him so proud of himself. He's his own little cheerleader!

I grew up with the 'don't toot your own horn' philosophy. That's just the way things were. But I now believe it's okay to celebrate successes. No gloating, of course, but what's wrong with being proud of personal accomplishments? Give yourself a high five. If we wait for someone else to, we might be waiting for a long time.

 I think it's called self-love and self-care.

Love your neighbour as you love yourself. 

U is for Up Close

Up is where my little chihuahua Prince Enzo belongs. He simply LOVES to be up on my lap. His favorite pastime is to be covered with a blanket and snooze on (or beside) someone. He lets out a deep sigh and settles in. He enjoys being as close to his humans as possible. .

My little grandson either puts his hands in the air or says "up" when he wants to be carried. He loves kisses and hugs, so it's a joy to snuggle with him, too.

Pets and wee ones feel loved when held close. It's a reminder to let the people know that they are appreciated. Kind words and hugs. Keep your humans and your fur babies close!

T is for Tantrums

I haven't yet seen little C throw himself on the floor and scream because he didn't get what he wanted. He may have done that in the comfort of his own home, but not at ours yet. He has said "No" to us, though, but that's just par for the course. He's (almost) two!

 Little children are known to have tantrums. I remember when my four children were all under seven years old. Tantrums were not fun times.  Experience has taught me a lot, though. I look back now and would have encouraged myself-as-a-young-mom to chill out more and take more time to determine what emotions led to the tantrum, not just deal with what I was seeing. I'd talk more and react less. Of course, as they say, hindsight is 20/20.

There's a lesson in there for us adults, too. We might not throw a physical tantrum (I hope!), but we all have moments where we sulk. Not super mature!

 I guess we learn as we go, don't we? Thankfully, my adult kids still love me, as imperfect as I was/am! And my husband does, too!

S is for Spontaneous

Spontaneous: 

performed or occurring as a result of a sudden inner impulse or inclination and without premeditation or external stimulus

having an open, natural, and uninhibited manner

Watch a little child play for just a few moments and you'll observe spontaneity. 

My little grandson recently discovered his 'talent' for making Donald Duck-like quacking sounds.  It's hilarious because he looks so serious when he's doing it, even though we are all laughing uncontrollably.  He's just being who he is in that moment, with no inhibitions.  What a joy is is to simply observe him smiling, laughing, and being goofy without a thought of whether it's 'proper' or not. 

I wonder when was the first moment that we as little children, became inhibited or cautious, wondering what others might think, and second guessing our actions?

No matter if we are planners or more impulsive, it's a good thing to be spontaneous at times. It will bring out that inner child that needs some fun!

R is for Reading

To watch a little person enjoy a book is so satisfying. Our dear little grandson just loves to be read to.
He loves interactive books. I love to bring out books I've saved, purchased, or found at thrift stores. Some of my favorite moments with him are when we're reading bedtime stories.

One book that my children have enjoyed when they were babies and now C has enjoyed it too, is Pat the Bunny, a children's classic. The drawings and text are simple and so appealing and relevant to children.

Sally Lloyd Jones has some beautifully illustrated and written children's books.  I'm waiting till C is a little older before I read from the Jesus Storybook Bible. It is one all ages will enjoy.

What would life be without books? I may be a bit biased here. I know not everyone loves to read, but.. I think they are missing out if they NEVER read anything for the sheer enjoyment of it.

Q is for Quiet Time

C is a good little napper. This makes things a lot easier for his mommy who has a newborn daughter to care for, as well. Having a nap time lets his body rest and he wakes up happy and ready for the remainder of the day.

As children outgrow their naps, it's common for them to have a daily quiet time. This is a time to do something alone in their own room, usually with some activities that aren't noisy and don't need adult supervision.

Quiet times allow time to for minds and bodies to be calmed.

Quiet times provide consistent rhythms to the days.

Quiet times don't have to be long, just effective.

Quiet times foster creativity. It's a time to think and imagine and even solve problems.

Photo by Johnny McClung on Unsplash

I don't think children should ever outgrow their quiet times, do you? I still appreciate mine!

P is for Present

How does one stay present in the moment these days?

It seems much easier to get distracted these days than when my children were young, back in the 80's and 90s. Then I might be distracted by my own thoughts, by chores, or perhaps a long phone call (phone attached to the wall!) .

I once posted a phrase on my fridge with the words "BE THERE" on it, to remind myself to give my kids 100% attention when I was engaging with them. I tended to multitask a lot, with homeschooling four children. How much harder is it these days

Photo by Oliur on Unsplash

to "BE THERE" with cell phone addiction thrown into the mix?

 These days cell phones are so ubiquitous. We see them in the hands of parents at parks, at restaurants, in living rooms, at the table,  and more. Parents may be physically present to their children, but I think it's much more difficult these days for them to truly give their children all of their attention. Cell phones are so very attractive!

 It hasn't taken any time at all for our little grandson to be enamored with cell phones. Why wouldn't he be? They are sooo interesting! Everyone seems to be constantly looking at their screens.  When he hears a notification sound, little C stops what he's doing and looks at us as if to say "Are you going to check what that is?"

 If we are honest, most of us would say we struggle with spending too much time on our phones, and are even battling a level of addiction to them. *hand raised*

Most of us could use a reminder to set our phones down and be present to those who are looking to us for attention or guidance.

My grandson is that reminder to me.

O is for Over

Moments don't last forever - savor them.

In the blink of an eye, it seems, the newborn baby with a scrunched up little face and a high pitched pitiful cry becomes smiley and interactive. The infant who was so helpless can now roll over, sit up, and crawl. The screeches become babbling, cooing, giggling, and sometimes louder wails!  And then, suddenly the baby emits sounds we can decipher. Babyhood is over and toddler-hood begins!

And on and on it goes. We think life is long, but we are only here for a short time. Life on earth is usually over in one hundred years or less. We are 'but a breath' as the writer says in the book of Proverbs.

We are often reminded to enjoy the moments we are in because they disappear just. like. that.

It's true.

N is for Night Terrors

Most of the time when our little toddler grandson stays over our house, he sleeps soundly through the entire night. A couple of times, however, I have awoken in the middle of the night to hear him crying.

I turn on the hall light and head downstairs to his room. There he is, sniffling and crying. I pick him up, wrap him in a blanket and settle into a chair with him. Rocking back and forth, I hold him tight and hum quietly. I tell him Oma loves him and Jesus loves him, too. I sit in silence with him. His breathing slows and deepens and I know he's falling back to sleep.

When I'm pretty sure he is calm and content, I slowly lower him back into his bed.

It's inevitable that we will have difficult experiences in our lives that steal our peace. Those can be very dark times. Sharing our fears and finding consolation in our friends, family, and faith can bring much comfort.

M is for Mistakes

"Uh-oh" says my little grandson, when his spoon falls to the floor or a cup falls over. He says it without hesitation and without embarrassment. It's just a fact. Something has gone wrong and he owns it.

It's a reminder to me to own my mistakes without shame. We all have regrets, things we wish we had or hadn't said or done. Sometimes the best thing to do is to accept our failure, confess it, and move on.

There is freedom in confession. I've experienced that.

Photo by chuttersnap on Unsplash

K is for Kindness

 Only when we have become nonviolent towards all life will we have learned to live well with others.Cesar Chavez

Both children and animals are totally dependent on the care of others. Their dependency reminds us that we were all once that vulnerable. What a responsibility we have towards those who cannot speak for themselves!

We are teaching our grandson, by example, to be very gentle, and most of the time he is. If we see him doing otherwise, we remind him that Enzo needs to be treated very carefully and that we are kind to our animals as well as our people. 

J is for Joy

The other day I took my grandson and Enzo the Chi outdoors for a little romp in the backyard. It was a warm, sunny day-- the kind of day you imagine when you think 'spring'. Well, Enzo couldn't contain his joy. He zipped up and down the yard, and ran back and forth past us as I played tag with him. I swear he was smiling! Little C and I both had a good laugh over watching this little canine go crazy.

I wonder when was the last time I literally jumped for joy? Well, my heart was full of joy when I met my new granddaughter for the first time yesterday, but I didn't jump. I got a little emotional and quiet, to be honest. Joy can be expressed that way, too. 

Moments of wild abandonment and letting loose are healthy for anyone. Little children and happy dogs remind me what it's like to express joy without reservation.

I is for Identity

Often when little C comes over for a visit, we play the naming game. He loves picture books and loves to point to the objects we ask him to find. He's also beginning to name us. Opa is "pa" and Oma is "omm-ma". And he is even starting to say his own name. He knows who he is and he's quite proud of it!

It is wonderful to watch little children, so secure in who they are. They haven't yet experienced the words and actions of others to make them begin to believe they are somehow lacking and 'not good enough'.

I wish every person could keep their childlike confidence and know their inherent value.  We are all unique and valuable, but sometimes it seems to take a lifetime to regain our true identity and be comfortable in our own skin.

 This song has been playing in my head while I was thinking about my word for today.

In other news, my second grandchild entered the world yesterday at 5:18 am! A sister for C! Be still, my heart! What a little miracle a newborn baby is-- another precious human being with her own identity. And we are excited to witness her unique little character and personality unfold!

H is for Hikes and Hills

Little Enzo the Chi may not look up to the task with his short, skinny little legs, but he's actually a really good little hiker. As long as he is walking at our heels, he's a happy little climber. 

Hiking means climbing, hopefully ending with a beautiful view from the top! The journey can sometimes be arduous, boring, even frustrating.  But when we get see the beautiful vista before us, especially in the company of our traveling companions, we think "The pain and work was worth it". 

Such is life. It can be really painful and tiring sometimes. And for some, it is often overwhelming. 

Sometimes the goals and dreams we have involve a lot of hard work. It takes a while before we see the results, but when we have achieved them, we can hopefully look back with gratefulness for the hard things that made us who we are.  

G is for Grateful

"What do you say?", my son gently says to his little toddler after giving him a treat. And little C kisses his chubby little hand and sends it away. Such a sweet little gesture meaning 'thank you'. 

We are all tempted to take so many things for granted, but being grateful keeps us aware of all of the good things in our lives. I know I often focus on the hard things that happen, the 'what ifs', and what I lack. Keeping a gratitude journal is one way to remind myself of all I DO have in my life. I don't write in it every day, but when I do, I think of at least five simple (or profound) things I'm thankful for that day. It changes perspective! 

Do you keep a gratitude list? 

F is for Friends

What is the definition of a friend? Essentially, it's someone who enjoys your company. Usually, if they like being with you, they are kind to you  and treat you well. They accept you for who you are. Of course, it's as important to BE a good friend as to have one.

 Little Enzo the Chi is happiest when he's physically close to his people. His big eyes often look up at me and I stroke his fur. He sighs audibly and deeply and settles down into his blanket.  He is definitely our little fur baby!

I recently enjoyed reading The Grace of Dogs: A Boy, A Black Lab, and a Father's Search for the Canine Soul by Andrew Root. In it, Root mentioned that studies have shown that dogs prefer being with people rather than with their own kind, which is unusual in the animal world.  As well, they are one of the few animals that constantly make eye contact with humans. They crave the connection with their human friends. We all know stories of friendship between humans and animals. There is definitely a special bond there.

A life lived well includes being a good friend as well as having them.