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The Word is Near You – Wise Words Wednesday

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The Word is Near You – Wise Words Wednesday

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Kids say the darndest things. They make these comments out of honesty and innocence (in most cases). While we usually disregard their observations as off-the-wall, we need to remember what our children say is a reflection of what they hear.

Recently some very angry words have come from the mouths of children in my life. Those angry words were directed at candidates of political races. It saddened me to hear them speak of any human being in such a manner, but it was particularly troubling because they spoke those words with complete honesty and comfort.

They were comfortable calling grown-ups, whom they don’t even know, names and accusing those adults of horrible things. The kids at school were verbally and emotionally angry with anyone who differed in their views about who should be elected. Their passion was admirable, but their hatred and distaste was unnerving. Continue reading “The Word is Near You – Wise Words Wednesday” →

Irksome

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Irksome via Daily Prompt: Irksome

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I love my children. I love when my children play nicely together. I love when my children play outside. Getting my children to play nicely together or to play outside can be a challenge.

The challenge of getting my kids to play is irksome.

Isn’t play what kids are supposed to do? Aren’t they supposed to build forts and play “house” and tell silly jokes? Why is it to hard to get my 5 year-old to ride a bike? Just ride the bike, right?!?

Well, here’s the irksome part. Most of the time my kids don’t get along or want to play outside because they want me to be a part of what they are doing.

Going outside is only fun if Mom or Dad are there to help with the heavy lifting and the bike balancing. Building forts and playing “house” is only exciting if Dad or Mom offer their expertise in the field of sustainable blanket roofs and the perfect temperature for imaginary hot tea. It really irks my kids when I don’t help build their forts or drink their imaginary hot tea.

It is important for us to teach our kids to play. Most of the time they are ok with me leaving them to their play, once the ground rules or foundation have been set. Make sure you are taking time to set ground rules and build foundations with those you love today. Someday they may not be there to bother you.

Put your energy into being active in the lives of those you love. The irksome feelings will wear off and the joy will form memories. Those memories will make you forget what they were ever fighting about in the first place.

By: Melanie A. Peters

P.S. I am sorry to my sisters for all the times I wouldn’t play the games you wanted to play when we were kids. I know I really irked you then. 🙂

 

Autumn Shine

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Autumn Shine via Photo Challenge: Shine

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The turning of the leaves is undoubtedly the greatest wonder of the autumn season. The multitude of crimsons, greens, and golds transition us from the long days and hot temps of summer. Leafy piles form in our yards and roadsides providing fall fun. The uniqueness of each leaf’s new color could be symbolic of our own special traits as we encounter changes in life.

Our uniqueness is defined by the way we let our talents shine. No matter what you are going through in life, there is something about you that is beautiful. Show the world just how special you are in this stage of life and embrace the constant change.

By: Melanie A. Peters

P.S. Happy fall!

 

Evil Flourishes – Wise Words Wednesday

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Evil Flourishes – Wise Words Wednesday

Evil Will Triumph.jpg

So many are unhappy with our choices in the upcoming elections.

I understand.

I am unhappy with the ugliness that has become our electoral process.

I guess I can’t be unhappy about my choices. At least someone stepped up to run for government.

Some of my students asked me why “good people” don’t run for office. I told them because “good people” do not want to expose their loved ones and themselves to the brutality of our election process. I could not explain why “good people” should be afraid of this process, but in my heart I knew the real ugliness could be found somewhere in the truth behind Edmund Burke’s quote:

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Continue reading “Evil Flourishes – Wise Words Wednesday” →

Feed the Machine and other Voluntary Acts

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Feed the Machine and other Voluntary Acts via Daily Prompt: Volunteer

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Seriously, how long does it take to put paper in a copier? How hard is it to hold open a door for someone? Does picking up a piece of trash cost you anything but calories?

This may seem like a sassy start for an Intentergy post, but I was really just trying to grab your attention on this fine Tuesday morning.

The fuel, behind my intent-powered program, is energy that burns because of kindness and consideration. Voluntary acts of kindness should not always be random or rare. They should be intentional and blatant. Let others know you care enough to do nice things for them and your surroundings.

As often as possible, I make it to the workroom on my plan time and feed the copy machine. Why? Because it stinks when you are running copies right before class and the dumb machine is starving. When people see me feeding the machine, they usually join me and help unwrap the reams. We share conversation and an intentional act of kindness. It is a very fulfilling act (not just for the poor, hungry copier).

Make these intentional acts frequently. Your frequency of kindness will result in greater consideration from those around you and that leads to even more intentional kindness and before we know it, people could actually have a good day. Smiles might actually appear without provocation. Thoughtful actions might occur without having to think about them. Who knows, maybe we might get a little bit closer to that whole world peace thing and start to put an end to starvation (not just the kind that happens to copiers).

Put your energy and intent into committing acts of charity and compassion and you will never starve for kindness or consideration. You will be filled with love and gratitude and that is what having Intentergy is all about.

By: Melanie A. Peters

P.S. This post was not intended to make you hungry, but if it did, be sure to share your snack with someone. It will taste even better.

Who is bawling?

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Who is bawling?

via Daily Prompt: Panic

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Even though humans have a hard time telling which calf belongs to what cow, those mama cows know their babies. Their cries are distinctive.

This mama had been grazing calmly and slowly, making her way across the pasture, when the first cry of a calf near the woods rang out. She stopped, lifted her head, and gazed in the direction of the cry.

After a few more pleading sounds were heard, she put her head back down and went back to foraging for the best grass. Off in the distance, you could hear the desperate call of another mama. That call was no different to me from any other cow, but I guarantee that crying calf knew who was making that racket.

A short time later both moos stopped, and I was assured that the lost calf had found its mother.

We, human parents, are no different. When our child laughs or cries on the playground, we know who it is that made those sounds. I can tell exactly which of my children is in the snack cabinet by the noises that come from the kitchen. I know which of my kiddos has just come into the house by the sound of their steps and how the door shuts (or slams in some cases). Our ears are trained to know when our loved ones are calling out for us. It is a very sensitive thing. Continue reading “Who is bawling?” →

Band-aids Only Cover Up the Hurt

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Band-aids Only Cover Up the Hurt

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We have a “No Blood = No Band-aid” rule at my house. I know this sounds kind of mean but my kids would go through a box of band-aids every day, if I didn’t enforce this.

There is something about covering up a boo-boo that seems to make it feel better but does the cover-up really help?

I am as guilty as anyone about covering up my hurts with busy work or eating chocolate. Sometimes I feel the need to lash out because of my shortcomings or put up a front when I just don’t know what to do in a situation. These are my behavior band-aids.

Think about the ways you cover up hurt in your life. Is it food? Alcohol? Shopping? Unhealthy relationships? What do you do to fill the empty spaces in your heart?  Continue reading “Band-aids Only Cover Up the Hurt” →

Woolly Worms and Wives’ Tales

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Woolly Worms and Wives’ Tales

We found this fast little fellow on our sidewalk and had to share!

I have always heard it said that if the woolly worms in the fall are solid black, it will be a long, cold winter.

Who am I to argue with the wisdom of wives’ tales?

We have spotted quite a few of these solidly colored, fuzzy fellows lately and (along with the Farmer’s Almanac) it has me curious.

Last fall the woolly worms all seemed to have three stripes. They were black, then brown, then black again. This pattern was actually a pretty accurate reflection of the winter. It started out cold and wet, was dry and mild, and then really wet and cold before early spring.

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2015 Woolly Worm

 

The idea of Mother Nature providing us hints as to what is to come (weather wise) has always fascinated me, so I did some research. Here is a brief synopsis of the cool stuff I learned.

In the 1940’s and 1950’s the curator of insects from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, Dr. C. H. Curran, conducted a study of the Woolly Bear Caterpillars to see if the size of their brown band was an accurate predictor of the type of winter that would follow their autumn appearance. His research did support the wives’ tale, but he knew it was too small a sampling to legitimately support the fanciful idea fully. It would take a much more serious and larger scale investigation to prove those old wives (whomever they may be) correct. While unable to deliver a definitive answer, Dr. Curran, his wife, and a close group of friends enjoyed these studies so much they called themselves The Original Society of the Friends of the Woolly Bear.  Continue reading “Woolly Worms and Wives’ Tales” →

Advice From Cavers

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Advice From Cavers

cave-advice

This sign hangs in the Visitors’ Center at Onondaga Cave State Park near the entrance of the Onondaga Cave.

The message is simple. It asks those that visit the cave to make memories there and not destroy future opportunities for others.

I love this message!

It is a terrific reminder that when we slow down, capture moments in our hearts, and appreciate what is in front of us, we leave opportunity for the future.

When we treat opportunities, like the ones provided by the caves with respect and appreciation, we present ourselves with greater understanding of what miracles are available to us. By dedicating time to experience what is beautiful in our world, we make our lives more beautiful. queens-throne-room

The memories we made visiting that cave are so special to me. My children and husband love talking about what we saw and did.It was a fantastic experience. I am excited to visit more caves so that we can compare and reminisce on what we  have seen and done. I like to think that these explorations will leave happy and memorable footprints on the hearts of my family.

Today take time to reminisce on fond memories of your own or make new ones with someone you love. Leave a positive footprint where you tread and make sure the time you kill is well spent.

 

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My son checking out the newest formations in the Lilly Pad Room at Onondaga Cave

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

Emergency Room Enlightenment

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Emergency Room Enlightenment

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Labor Day 2016 – I was grading papers. My husband was watching baseball and surfing the internet. My kids were jumping off my daughter’s bed onto a pallet of pillows and blankets. All was right in the world…

My youngest son was too excited to wait for his turn; he pushed my older son. My older son rolled into my daughter. My daughter fell off the bed and whacked her knee cap on the bed rail.

Her knee swelled immediately and she cried and screamed for quite some time. Ice and ibuprofen did not seem to help. At 6:00 p.m. on Labor Day, I took my daughter to the emergency room.

We waited a long time after being check-in. The Emergency Room is busy on Labor Day.

My daughter was in pain, but her curiosity kept her busy with worry for every person who came through the ER doors. Eventually we were taken back to an exam room and she was evaluated by a Nurse Practitioner name Dana. Everyone treated my little girl with kindness and comfort. She was taken back for x-rays and handled with great concern. Fortunately, the x-ray revealed that her knee cap was not broken. The swelling was probably the result of a ligament strain.

A doctor joined Nurse Practitioner Dana and confirmed these results. Maggie was to have her leg splinted for a few days and then keep weight off of it until we could follow up with our pediatrician.

The nurses who cared for my daughter were busy and working hard, but took exceptional care to check on Maggie’s comfort. They even gave her lessons on how to use her new crutches. Finally, at 2:00 a.m. we were ready to be discharged. Before we left, Nurse Practitioner Dana stopped in to see if we needed anything else. She kindly provided an absence excuse and physical activity excuse for Maggie. But,she gave me the best gift I could have hoped for that night. Continue reading “Emergency Room Enlightenment” →