Category Nature

Carefree? When the Angels Let Loose

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Carefree? When the Angels Let Loose

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When I was a little girl, we were told that rain was the result of the angels crying. This idea always made me sad because I thought heaven was supposed to be a place where everyone was carefree and happy all the time.

In my innocent mind, the angels just had to be carefree.

As I got older, I started to believe that those angel tears had to be caused by more than sadness.

Those drops fall because the angels feel compassion or understanding for the earth below and know that the world needs to be refreshed or washed of the sorrows mankind has brought on itself.

Angel tears are sent to free us from our cares. They are to remind us that Heaven knows what is going on in our lives and that our hurt and sins can be washed away. Our souls can soak up all we need to live and love. Continue reading “Carefree? When the Angels Let Loose” →

Feast

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Feast

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Vegetables shared with us from our aunt and uncle. Potatoes provided by my father-in-law. Bananas and oranges from the grocery store.

We have an aunt and uncle who garden. By garden I don’t mean a few raised beds and a couple of hanging baskets on the front porch. I mean they GARDEN. Each year they plant four or five vegetable gardens.

They start the seeds in February or March in their home and then transplant them into the long, tilled rows of their various produce fields. They grow sweet corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, potatoes, zucchini, squash, peppers, and more. Their bounty flourishes with their generosity towards us.

As the summer months roll along, I often come home to find a pile of zucchini or corn inside the front door. Sometimes there will be a bucket of tomatoes or a bag of cucumbers on the front porch. We are SO blessed that they share their garden goodies with us!

To show our thanks, I often bake them zucchini bread or angel food cake (Uncle loves this.) Sometimes I will take them a turkey dish or just sent a thank you card. This is all they ever allow me to do in the form of payment for the awesome summer treats.

Summertime really does provide a feast for us (thanks to Aunt and Uncle’s labors and kindness).

It doesn’t always take a box of tomatoes or a bag of sweet corn for us to feast on the blessings our loved ones provide for us. People in our lives grace us with tremendous gifts each day. Take time to identify and realize the wonderful ways your life is enhanced because of the actions your friends and family make.

Take time today to thank someone in your life for the blessings they serve you. Say a prayer of thanksgiving for the opportunities provided to you by your parents or friends. Make plans to do something that shows your gratitude for someone you care about.

Put your energy into positively pursuing your intents of gratitude, and you will surely find yourself feasting on love and added blessings.

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

Taking a Break from a Break

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Taking a Break from a Break

Taking a break from a break

 

On our recent fishing trip, my kids could not wait to get out of the boat and climb the big rocks lining the shore. After a ton of whining and pleading, my husband gave in and pulled close enough for the kids to clamor out and explore.

They were wearing flip-flops and life jackets so climbing was not easy but they LOVED it.

With warnings like “Watch where you step,” “Look out for snakes,” and “Don’t throw rocks,” you would think their spirits would be dampened, but no way. My husband was so excited to fish with the kids and I think it was a little hard for him when they were less interested in catching the big one than they were in the monolithic rocks. I was more concerned with snakes hiding in the rocks, but we have to choose our battles (July Positivity Challenge).

After a bit I calmed down and reminded myself we were on vacation and it was supposed to be relaxing and fun. If the kids wanted to get out and roam over the rocks for a while, it might mean I get to relax while they rest up from their fun. 🙂

Soon they climbed as far as was safe and were ready to jump back in the boat. They had taken their break from our fishing break and were ready to get back at it.

In daily life, I often find myself so absorbed in my to-do list that I forget that it is ok to take a break or that a few extra minutes snuggling or drawing with my kids won’t hurt the unfolded laundry or unwashed dishes. We all need to give ourselves permission to climb and explore a little bit. We might find that it makes us more productive in the long run.

Give your intentions a new direction today. Let that direction lead you where your heart takes you, even if it’s only for a few moments. It will restore your positivity and increase your energy and that is what having Intentergy is all about.

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

Mama Catches Happiness

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Mama Catches Happiness

Mamas Catch.jpg

After I caught this crappie at Truman Lake, my husband told my kids, “Now Mama is happy.”

I made them take my picture. I was proud of my catch and I wanted my kids to see my pride.

Heavy storms with lots of thunder and lightening blew through two of the three nights we were at the lake. The storm fronts seemed to have scared off the fish because we only caught about 15 fish the entire trip. My contributions to the fishing came in the form of this and one other fish caught, keeping the boys from falling in the water, and having minnows ready to bait my daughter’s hook. I just happened to catch this guy during one of the quieter moments of our excursion. I fished with my youngest son on my lap so he could “catch” one too, but he couldn’t stand the wait so we never snagged one for him.

Fishing with my kids is stressful and scary for me. I am afraid of water.

Water has frightened me since I was a teenager. As a camp counselor, I had to rescue two girls after they tipped over their canoe in a deep and restricted part of the camp lake. A year later I had to provide first aid to a man who sustained a head injury at a local water slide when he flipped off the mat (on which he was supposed to remain seated). People who are not afraid of water get hurt. I am afraid of water.

On our fishing trip, safety precautions were my number one concern. Appropriately fitting life jackets, secured seats, swimming lesson reminders, and safety whistles were all in place.  The waters were calm and my always zen husband sat confidently as he drove the boat. I clutched my youngest son for dear life. Continue reading “Mama Catches Happiness” →

Dog on Vacation

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Dog on Vacation

Dog on Vacation

Last week we decided to take an impromptu vacation to Truman Lake in Warsaw, Missouri. We have visited this lake in the past, but this would be our first trip with all three kids and the dog.

Taking the kids was not the shocking part of our planning. Taking the dog tested my husband’s bounds of comfort on many levels. He is not a fan of dogs in cars. He is not a fan of dogs licking faces or hands or legs or any other body part. He is adamantly against dogs in the house. Living up to the July Intentergy Positivity Challenge he gave in and allowed us to borrow a travel kennel from friends and bring our fur-baby along.

Bandit was the picture of puppy grace on the trip. He rode happily and quietly in the kids’ laps on the drive to and from the lake. Quickly did his business in the grass and took a nap in the kennel while we stopped to eat. Never once did the dog ask, “How much longer?”  or complain about what food we chose to eat. Not once did Bandit whine about one of the kids touching him or looking at him or breathing the same air he did. Never did we have to deal with him throwing a fit because he was hot, hungry, or tired. Continue reading “Dog on Vacation” →

Cabarnet and Killing Flies

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Cabernet and Killing Flies

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Last Tuesday my husband took the kids out for a ride on our Pioneer, while I cleaned up dinner. After the dishes were done, I poured myself a glass of wine and was ready to enjoy a few quiet moments. There was a problem though. My moment was NOT quiet. There were flies buzzing around my kitchen and living room. 😦

This season the flies have been terrible. I don’t know why, but they have been terrible.

So I took my glass of Cabernet, grabbed the fly swatter, and began my hunt. With each fly I killed, I took a sip of my wine. It ended up being very therapeutic. In fact it was so therapeutic, I wrote about it in a Facebook post.

Before I knew it I had more comments and “Likes” than I had dead flies. About the time the comments started coming in, my husband returned with my kiddos. I hopped in the Pioneer to join them for an evening ride and to check the cows. When I got back, over 100 people had “Liked” or commented on my post about drinking wine and killing flies. It was pretty amusing.

The best part about my post was how many people wanted to join in my hunt. I am not sure if they were more attracted to the fly killing or the wine drinking, but they wanted to share in my new found pastime. A friend told me later that she was just glad I was taking some time for myself. Poor flies. They had to die at the expense of my relaxation.

(Forget the flies. They bug me!)

So here’s the Intentergy message for today. If you have a chance to do something you enjoy (like drinking wine) and you can do it while being productive (like killing flies), do it.

Put your intent into making progress while enjoying the process. Jam out to your favorite music while you clean. Sing to your plants as you weed the garden. Jog or run while taking care of your favorite pet. Eat a chocolate for each sink of dishes that you wash. Tell jokes to your kids as you sweep the porch. Make light of your tasks and your work will definitely weight you down much less.

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

 

 

 

Fairy Gardens

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Fairy Gardens

Fairie Gardens.jpg

Fairy Garden and Dudenhoeffer’s Countryside Gardens in Frankenstein, Missouri. You need to check it out!

 

I have never had my own fairy garden but I think I need one.

When visiting our local green house, Dudenhoeffer’s Countryside Gardens in Frankenstein, Missouri, my kids were enthralled with Kathy’s fairy garden. I have seen and read a lot this summer on fairy gardens. It is really kind of interesting.

People will turn just about anything into a whimsical space for frolicking fairies. I have seen the Tinkerbell movies and I know how they are supposed to work in a child’s mind, but have not taken the initiative to create one of my own. (My daughter has different plans.) 🙂 One of my future goals for our flower beds is to spend time with my kiddos creating their own fairy gardens. It will be fun to see what they build or create and what they thing the fairies will like.

I have seen where old milk crates, chairs, dresser drawers, and even toilets have been turned into a play place for the imaginary creatures. Some fairy gardens have waterfalls and flowers. Others are designed around rocks and succulent plants. Most all have some sort of cabin or cottage for the fairies to rest. All have something fun and exciting for the winged wonders to check out. The detail and color that can be found in these tiny hideouts is so exciting. But I guess the thing that really makes them impressive is that, aside from their small-scale, someone dedicated a great deal of creativity and inspiration into building the sweet spaces.

I really think I need a fairy garden so my imagination, along with the fairies, has a new playground.

Imagination is alive and well in fairy gardens. Imagination is something that too few of us exercise enough. A fairy garden may not be your cup of tea, but this summer I encourage you to find something that stretches your imagination. Give your creativity a work out. Try a new hobby, visit a new town, check out a concert or poetry reading, take an art class, or design a webpage. Everything you need to start your whimsical workout is inside you. It shouldn’t take much more than some faith, trust, and pixie dust to get things going. 🙂

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

Soup in Summertime

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Soup in Summertime

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I don’t make soup very often in the summer. I don’t know why.

Yes, it is hot outside, but thanks to the miracle of air conditioning, it is plenty cool inside.

Summer is when the perfect ingredients are fresh from the garden and it is so easy to have a bowl of soup with a salad and be on our way.

We eat meals every day at home. I believe firmly in cooking and eating together, so soup is perfect. My kiddos can help prepare and add the ingredients and then we can enjoy the fruits of our labor together. Plus left overs can be a life saver on a busy day, and soup is often better the second time around.

The message of today’s post is this: Take time to consider options that are available to you which you wouldn’t normally take advantage. If there is a free service or program, check it out. Enjoy the things your community has to offer like park programs, nature talks, free concerts, art shows, car shows, or patronize a farmers’ market.

If fresh fruits and veggies make themselves available to you, be grateful for the source and share in the wealth. My father-in-law brought us a bucket of zucchini and potatoes from his garden. I prepped and froze some zucchini for us, grilled some, and shared the rest with our neighbors. Continue reading “Soup in Summertime” →

Dog Days

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Dog Days

Dog Days Bandit.jpg

 

On the hottest day of the year (so far), we brought home a puppy. We have wanted a puppy for a very, very long time but my husband and I told our kiddos that they had to show us they could be responsible enough and get along with each other enough to get a dog. I guess they have shown us (or I just really wanted a puppy and my husband finally gave in.)

Well, he is here! His name is Bandit and we LOVE him!

Due to the hot weather, Bandit has been pretty lethargic during the day. My children seem to be oblivious to the sweltering heat and want to play. I keep trying to explain to them that he is too hot and just needs to keep cool in the shade.

As the sun has gone down each evening, the puppy has grown increasingly playful and the kids are really enjoying their new friend.

Today I woke all three kiddos up extra early, so they could get some good play time in with Bandit before it got too hot.  The puppy was glad to have a distraction. (He is still missing his mama a little bit.) My kids were able to employ all the new toys they have bought for their furry friend. It was a wonderful way to start our day!

It was tough to get them going before 6:30 a.m. but definitely worth the extra effort.

There is a terrific lesson in consideration behind this story. We all need to have compassion and understanding when someone is feeling the “heat” of life.

When you encounter someone who is moving slow, is in your way, or distracted, consider what might be going on in their life that you can’t feel (like my children and their disregard for 99 degree temperatures). You may be able to provide that person with relief from their suffering or ease their discomfort with your kindness.

It might take a little extra effort but may make an even greater difference for those you encounter.

Take time before lashing out at those who are not doing things the way you want them done. Be patient with those who aren’t moving at the same speed you are. Be ready with a kind word or action for those you encounter who aren’t up for revelry and celebration. Offer a “cool” alternative for those who are not up to taking part in games or running with the pack.

If your intents are supported by compassion and consideration, your energy will provide a positively pleasing reassurance for those who are feeling “heat” from their life experiences. Be the cool kid! Show understanding and acceptance.

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

 

 

Catchin’ Crawdads

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Catchin’ Crawdads

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One of the coolest parts of playing in the creek is catching crawdads. On our last creek excursion my husband, daughter, and son caught two crawdads, and you would have thought we discovered a new species. Well, I guess the crawdads were a new species to my kiddos, because they had never had one in their possession before.

As a kid I caught a few of the snappy, creek dwellers and I now harbor fond memories of trying to keep them alive in a big jar with water and rocks.

Crawdads are simple creatures. They hang out under rocks and wait for their food to float by. When something big enough is caught to share, they feed off one another’s catch.

They know all the good hiding places and forage for the simple floating foods.

When you catch a crawdad, they wriggle and try to pinch you with their claws and seek to return to their home of rocks and water. They probably do want to hurt you, but not because they are mean, but because they just don’t feel safe.

We are a lot like crawdads. Continue reading “Catchin’ Crawdads” →