The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Sept 29th- A few of my favorite things...
~Wondering why the "cheerios" have been relegated to the tower
~Tha Cinderella's Castle at 20 years old still lights to the delight of the girlies
~Watching Thea try to trace her hand

The Habit of Encouragement: The Puff Paradigm

My aunt is one of the greatest encouragers I know.

She has the gift of mercy.

She remembers details of what 

other people's happy thoughts are.

She buys amazing little gifts that lift the spirits.

She makes yummy meals for those in need.

Brings ice cream 

and cones

for no particular reason,

She even remembered what a 

friend's favorite milkshake was

and had me deliver it 

when he moved into 

my area.

She will listen to you, pray with you

and remind you that God is always with you...

...even in the storms

of life...

He is still there!

Recently, my aunt and uncle 

have been going through their own storm.

When she called me the first night crying, 

I prayed for them both, but I also prayed that 

friends would surround them and shower them

with their presence and encourage them

along the way...

...and they have!

Friends have sent cards,

brought meals,

written notes,

and just 

been there

for them.

They have been 

the hands of feet of God

on earth.

Those she once encouraged, now encourage her.

And she is allowing them to 

bless her.

The Puff Paradigm is now complete.

What is the Puff Paradigm?

Recently I introduced the magic "Puff The Magic Dragon"

to my kids.

As I watched it I never realized how deep

this children's movie was.

Jackie Draper was sad and needed encouragement,

so...

Puff took Jackie Draper and turned him into Jackie Paper.

Then he taught him 3 important lessons.

First, he needed a change of perspective his situation: the sea.

He only could think of the sea as a horrible place.

Puff showed him what it could be:

Second he needed a change of perspective on people.

Puff helped show him that the mean, scary pirate

was really just a person who'd rather 

be a cook.

Now if the movie ended there,

It would be a great message:

Sometimes we need a change of perspective

on 

the circumstances

and/or 

the people

in our lives.

But the message would be incomplete....that's not where the movie ends.

So just how did Jackie Paper (not real) become Jackie Draper (real) once again?

He learned this lesson:

He learned to give back 

what he had been taught!

How do you know you really have learned something?

When you can teach it to others.

That is the Puff Paradigm:

It is completed only when you can give back to someone else, 

even the one who encouraged you in the first place.

One-way giving can be toxic to both the giver and recipient.

It is better when it goes both ways.

Jackie Paper realized 

he could help Puff 

and encouraged him in his time of need.

And Puff realized he could be the receiver 

when he was used to being the giver.

The cycle was complete!

Jackie Paper became Jackie Draper once again.

So today,

take time to lift up

someone else,

show them a 

different perspective

on 

circumstances 

and/or

people.

Encourage 

as you have been

Encouraged.

Be encouraged 

as you have been

encouraged by

 those who come along side you.

And Puff's Paradigm

will make everyone's

day

brighter.

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Sept 28th- A few of my favorite things...
~Watching Shaniah practically become a mermaid during swim lessons
~Seeing Lissie discover the courage that she can float by herself in a life jacket (no death cling to the mommy necessary)
~Gwynnie's excitement over learning to do a back float today in swim class

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Sept 27th- A few of my favorite things...
~Watching people take time to watch the moon tonight
~A spectacular moonrise worth stopping for
~Listening to Chris read the girlies their bedtime story while watching the lunar eclipse

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Sept 26th- A few of my favorite things...
~Watching Gwynnie learn the rules to carpet ball
~Watching her develop her own technique...
~Then handily beat Lissie, who had just defeated me at it...both were way too good for first time players

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Sept 25th- A few of my favorite things...
~Red maple leaves against a blue sky
~A honey bee trying to get the last of his work done before the first frost
~The last of the trumpet tine flowers heralding Autumn's return

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Sept 24th- A few of my favorite things...
~Wondering what conversations were had after the horses were hitched at this simple hitching post
~Wondering what personality--there is always that one in town that just had to be different---that chose a hitching post that looked like a stump
~The craftsmanship and elegance of 2 matched hitching posts flanking either side of the carriage step long after the horses have ceased to carry people to their destination

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Sept 23rd- A few of my favorite things...
~The fun of being a "twinsie" with your doll...Thea and 'Fia
~The fun of sharing a childhood favorite with my girlies "Puff The Magic Dragon"
~Watching them in rapt attention, realizing why this is such a great classic

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Sept 22nd- A few of my favorite things...
~The scent of wood smoke wafting through the air
~The sound of of a night bird calling in the distance
~The slow hopping of a toad on a chilly night

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Sept 21st- A few of my favorite things...
~Catching a line of geese finding a place to spend the night
~Watching light and color dance with the clouds, taking turns with various partners
~Seeing the half moon caught up in a whirlwind of pink

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Sept 20th- A few of my favorite things...
~The fun of watching a greased-pole climbing contest
~Getting a picture with Darth Vader...funny I always pictured him taller wink emoticon 
~Finding a fly who is enjoying the last rays of sunshine with you

"Aren't you a little short for an Evil Jedi?"

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Sept 19th- A few of my favorite things...
~The fun of the Jordan Fall Festival where you can fly through the air in a magical chair...
~...or ride a dragon to lands far away....
~...or race motorcycles with your sister to destinations unknown!

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Sept 18th- A few of my favorite things...
~Finding that your 3 year old has lined up her own "terracotta" army after watching a program about the Chinese Terracotta Army with her big sisters
~Helping our local library by buying books at the Jordan Fall Festival
~Miraculously finding a necklace a friend dropped after going back to look for it about 1.5 hrs after she lost it walking back from the Jordan Fall Festival

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Sept 17th- A few of my favorite things...
~Magnets that transform into a magic carpet ride
~Old pots and pans that make magical meals
~How just a haircut can magically make a child looks so much older

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Sept 16th- A few of my favorite things...
~Helping a doll learn her letter sounds
~Thea's coloring of a butterfly
~Shaniah's first attempt at scratch art

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Sept 15th- A few of my favorite things...
~Finding a friend to read a play with you
~Creating a nest to read alone
~Making sure all of your friends get their lunch