Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Some Precious Moments - Highlights from our Summer Trip
 |
| Grandpa and his namesake "Lt. Lehi" |
 |
| Dandylion at the beach |
 |
| Dandylion (youngest) and Noble (oldest) at a rest stop |
 |
| Who has the longest arms? Mr. Movie - TopDad - Dandylion |
 |
| Crossing the Puget Sound - PFCMom and TopDad 26 Years Together |
 |
| Mr. Movie at Mt. Rushmore |
 |
| PFCMom and the sweetest daughter ever - Noble |
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Finally! A Picture
 |
| Graduation Day 30 May 2014
This is my family! L to R: JET, PW (Lt. Lehi), Dr. Hair (or Mr. Movie), TopDad, Dandylion, Noble, PFCMom, Grandpa (my dad)
Photo taken in Heritage Park, Old Town, San Diego on the occasion of PW's graduation from Marine Corps Recruit Training. We were all together for the first time in over four years. It was a glorious day!
After graduation we went to lunch at a Mexican restaurant in Old Town, had a delicious meal and lots of fun jabbering away with each other. When it was time to get the bill, TopDad was informed that the bill had been paid in full. We asked who, but were told that he wanted to remain anonymous. All the waitress would tell us was that he was in the Navy, had worked with Marines and thought Paul looked like an especially good Marine and he was proud and honored to pay for our meal. We teared up with gratitude and humility at being so honored by this good man.
|
I plan to post more pictures of our vacation, soon. A huge thank-you to my niece for taking the family photos.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Timing is Everything
When I moved to Iowa I left behind my washer and dryer. TopDad had purchased a used pair when he bought our house here. The whole time I've lived here I've missed mine. Yesterday, exactly a week before we leave on vacation, the dryer died. I think prayer had kept it going this long, as it has always made a horrible screeching noise and was less than efficient in its work. But I didn't want to spend money on a new one or even a newer one until we were further out of debt.
After I discovered it had died, in the midst of drying a load of bath towels, I put my thinking cap on and pondered alternatives. I did hang the towels on a clothes rack in front of an open window with a slight breeze. I applaud all of you who have clothes lines and hang your clothes out in the sunshine and fresh air. I'd love to do that too, but don't have a clothes line, and my husband hasn't consented to put one up yet. So. I looked online for wooden or metal drying racks that I could make do with. The little wimpy ones are $20, and the big metal ones are over $100, and none are the shape and kind I had in mind. I got up from the computer sort of discouraged and wondering what to do.
Then a prompting came to look on Craigslist. I searched "electric dryers" and came up with a whole bunch. The first one that caught my eye was a newer version of the one I left in Utah, for, get this, $50!! I called and told the guy I wanted it, had cash in hand, and would be there in less than an hour. Just that day they had gotten a new washer and dryer installed and they didn't want to just send the old dryer to the landfill. So they put it on Craigslist hoping someone could get further use out of it.
Thank you Lord, for perfect timing!
After I discovered it had died, in the midst of drying a load of bath towels, I put my thinking cap on and pondered alternatives. I did hang the towels on a clothes rack in front of an open window with a slight breeze. I applaud all of you who have clothes lines and hang your clothes out in the sunshine and fresh air. I'd love to do that too, but don't have a clothes line, and my husband hasn't consented to put one up yet. So. I looked online for wooden or metal drying racks that I could make do with. The little wimpy ones are $20, and the big metal ones are over $100, and none are the shape and kind I had in mind. I got up from the computer sort of discouraged and wondering what to do.
Then a prompting came to look on Craigslist. I searched "electric dryers" and came up with a whole bunch. The first one that caught my eye was a newer version of the one I left in Utah, for, get this, $50!! I called and told the guy I wanted it, had cash in hand, and would be there in less than an hour. Just that day they had gotten a new washer and dryer installed and they didn't want to just send the old dryer to the landfill. So they put it on Craigslist hoping someone could get further use out of it.
Thank you Lord, for perfect timing!
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Wordy Wednesday - Parenting
I was the last of my parent's children to marry and have children, by a long time. When we all got together my parents thought my children were brats compared to the older grandchildren, so they sent me a book to help. It hurt my feelings at the time, but I got over it and am grateful for them pointing me in the right direction. The book is John Rosemond's Six-Point Plan for Raising Happy, Healthy Children (also available here and here) Our children were normal, immature children; their grandparents were old, tired and accustomed to quieter, older, mature grandchildren. Also comparing our children to their own was unfair because there are long spaces between my brothers and I and our youngest sister, while my children came at fairly regular intervals and were all young together. That makes for more noise and excitement.
So what's the six point plan? Here's my brief synopsis:
Point One - The Parent Centered Family
When you think about it, the purpose of family life is to raise independent children who will leave home to form their own families and leave the parents on their own again. If we neglect our spouse we will end up strangers when our children are grown and then what's left? Children orbit around the parents, not the other way around. When children are the center, they can grow up selfish and unable to meet the needs of others.
For single parents he says ". . .you can't successfully supply someone else's 'warehouse' unless your own is fully stocked."
Point Two - The Voice of Authority
Expect your children to obey. My parents told me "Make them mind," and it took me a long time to figure out how. Parenting is tiring, but when done right, in spite of exhaustion, produces wonderful adults. We are not meant to be friends with our children until they become adults. We are meant to teach and train them to become successful in life and lead them, literally by the hand when necessary, to that end.
Point Three - The Roots of Responsibility
Expecting children to work is so vital to their maturity. Responsibility comes before rights, a lesson that too many aren't learning, as evidenced in the infantile obsession with rights in our country today. "Give them opportunities to learn the hard way, which is often the only way possible."
Point Four - The Fruits of Frustration
Part of maturity is being able to deal with whatever life throws at you without having a meltdown. Consistent doses of Vitamin N (the NO word) produces children with strengths such as self-discipline and self-control.
Point Five - Toys and Play: The Right Stuff
"So, how are parents to know whether the toys they are buying their children are good investments? In addition to being safe, a good toy embodies four qualities:
-First, it presents a wide range of creative possibilities.
-Second, it encourages manipulation.
-Third, it's age appropriate
-Fourth, it's durable."
He gives a "10" to Legos, with building sets like Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, and Erector Sets coming in a close second. He advocates art materials, dolls (cuddly ones that don't do everything), stuffed animals and such. He also gives his advice on involving children in organized sports (or not involving as he advises).
Point Six - Television and Children: More than Meets the Eye
He advocates severely limiting screen time (of any kind) for children during the most important developmental time of their lives, up to six years of age. "They are called "formative" because they comprise that period during which the young child is discovering, developing, and strengthening the skills he/she will need to become a creative, competent person.
His final point is to love them enough to do the other six.
These points work! I've seen it in our children and many others who were raised in a similar way. And when adult children express gratitude for being raised in this way, well, that's what we call Parental Paydays. Hope you have many!
So what's the six point plan? Here's my brief synopsis:
Point One - The Parent Centered Family
When you think about it, the purpose of family life is to raise independent children who will leave home to form their own families and leave the parents on their own again. If we neglect our spouse we will end up strangers when our children are grown and then what's left? Children orbit around the parents, not the other way around. When children are the center, they can grow up selfish and unable to meet the needs of others.
For single parents he says ". . .you can't successfully supply someone else's 'warehouse' unless your own is fully stocked."
Point Two - The Voice of Authority
Expect your children to obey. My parents told me "Make them mind," and it took me a long time to figure out how. Parenting is tiring, but when done right, in spite of exhaustion, produces wonderful adults. We are not meant to be friends with our children until they become adults. We are meant to teach and train them to become successful in life and lead them, literally by the hand when necessary, to that end.
Point Three - The Roots of Responsibility
Expecting children to work is so vital to their maturity. Responsibility comes before rights, a lesson that too many aren't learning, as evidenced in the infantile obsession with rights in our country today. "Give them opportunities to learn the hard way, which is often the only way possible."
Point Four - The Fruits of Frustration
Part of maturity is being able to deal with whatever life throws at you without having a meltdown. Consistent doses of Vitamin N (the NO word) produces children with strengths such as self-discipline and self-control.
Point Five - Toys and Play: The Right Stuff
"So, how are parents to know whether the toys they are buying their children are good investments? In addition to being safe, a good toy embodies four qualities:
-First, it presents a wide range of creative possibilities.
-Second, it encourages manipulation.
-Third, it's age appropriate
-Fourth, it's durable."
He gives a "10" to Legos, with building sets like Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, and Erector Sets coming in a close second. He advocates art materials, dolls (cuddly ones that don't do everything), stuffed animals and such. He also gives his advice on involving children in organized sports (or not involving as he advises).
Point Six - Television and Children: More than Meets the Eye
He advocates severely limiting screen time (of any kind) for children during the most important developmental time of their lives, up to six years of age. "They are called "formative" because they comprise that period during which the young child is discovering, developing, and strengthening the skills he/she will need to become a creative, competent person.
His final point is to love them enough to do the other six.
These points work! I've seen it in our children and many others who were raised in a similar way. And when adult children express gratitude for being raised in this way, well, that's what we call Parental Paydays. Hope you have many!
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
A Quarter of a Century
Twenty-five years ago today, TopDad and I were married. The only thing I've done longer than that is simply live. We are in the midst of the first annual Thoelke Family Reunion. It's a tradition I've wanted to have for a long time. With three adult children I figured now was the right time to begin, then the habit will be established that each summer right around June 25 everyone will gather at Papa and Nana Thoelke's for a family reunion, which will include the Thoelke Family Golf Classic.
For our anniversary we are getting a couple of trees to plant in our yard. We did that for our 20th also. We hope we stay here longer and can actually see the trees grow up.
In other news, Noble is across the ocean and the international date line, so I now call her Future Girl. As we are getting up she is winding down her day; when we are going to bed, she is eating lunch the next day. Mind boggling, but fun.
PW is taller than TopDad, JET is still the tallest, Dr. Hair is not far behind, just a bit shorter than TopDad, with Dandylion bringing up the rear, and taller than PFCMom. I'm the shrimp now! But it is fun to be surrounded by five tall, handsome males.
Here's looking at the next 25 years and planning on even better things to come.
For our anniversary we are getting a couple of trees to plant in our yard. We did that for our 20th also. We hope we stay here longer and can actually see the trees grow up.
In other news, Noble is across the ocean and the international date line, so I now call her Future Girl. As we are getting up she is winding down her day; when we are going to bed, she is eating lunch the next day. Mind boggling, but fun.
PW is taller than TopDad, JET is still the tallest, Dr. Hair is not far behind, just a bit shorter than TopDad, with Dandylion bringing up the rear, and taller than PFCMom. I'm the shrimp now! But it is fun to be surrounded by five tall, handsome males.
Here's looking at the next 25 years and planning on even better things to come.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Happiness: Thanks to Noble
This is the first Korean Pop Music Video that my fun daughter, Noble, shared with me. This is the one that started it all.
This one, however, is my favorite:
How can I be down in the dumps after watching such cute young men singing and dancing their hearts out? Impossible.
Have a fun day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)