Wisdom, Whimsey, and a Whistle.
Helping Moms Live JOY! No matter the challenges you face, or will face, as a mom, you have been divinely equipped to face them and grow through them. God is the Potter and you are the clay. He is molding and fashioning you and, through you, your children. That truth holds great beauty and divine security.

About Tracey

On a good day you’ll find me outdoors hiking and squeezing in some writing. I love my man and my children, [read more]

Snowmageddon!

Feb
8


So all day today I had meetings…important stuff regarding MomLife Today, upcoming video interviews, various events, future plans – including an amazingly fantastical mom conference we are planning.

But here’s the thing, all I could really think about was the grocery list in my purse and how I needed to get to the store to buy snow day supplies before Snowmageddon hits tomorrow!

It was entertaining how throughout the day the forecast was growing by monumental proportions.  People were all a flitter with what they had “heard” regarding the snow storm of epic proportions that was brewing in the midwest and barreling straight towards us.

I heard we were going to have everything from 2 inches to 15 inches dumped on us. There was also talk that businesses were going to be shut down the remainder of the week.

Well, since I wasn’t quite sure who was right and who was exaggerating and I feared empty shelves at the grocery store (because that little r-r-r-rumor was going around too) I had no choice but to join the fretful masses and commence to stocking up on mass quantities of food.

I now have pancake mix on the ready, lunch meats, chips, fruits, veggies – including broccoli slaw ingredients {so yumular} chili ingredients ready to be thrown on the stove {yes, I will place it in a pot first} and copious amounts of snack food.

It also seems I have picked up a few extra teenagers…I’m guessing that has something to do with our hot tub…and my grocery run, but I am ok with that!

So, I now await snowmageddon…bring it on!

(For the record – guess what I had planned for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday this week? Writing, so I could get the finishing touches on my book to give to my Editor. Doesn’t that just figure?)

UPDATE: So, Snowmageddon is happening…it’s 2 pm and we have a good five inches of snow on the ground and it is still coming down – see the pics I just placed in this post! The teens gathered here have gone sledding, come home for some “tight” chili and chocolate cake, had a Kinect Dance Party, the guys all got in the hot tub and the girls are photographing our horses out in the snow! So…for me, snowmageddon has been a good thing! Making memories {and smiling} is my favorite!

Help for Moms Who Wanna Have Fun

Jan
27

Part of my m.o. is that I am a mom who likes to have fun with my kids. Now it wasn’t always this way mind you, I went through my exhausted who has time for fun stage, but God snapped me out of that and I have never looked back.

I realize that not all moms are naturally inclined for fun – that’s why I wrote a post over at MomLife Today with a few tips for funness! Listed below are the ten suggestions for fun I challenged moms to try – I hope you will give one or two (or ten) a try!

1 – I will perform an airbrush concert that will leave them speechless and/or giggling with wild abandon!

2 – I will place my hair in pig tails and/or moose it straight up and act like that is totally normal for me, with an eyebrow raising “what?” when they all look at me like I am crazy!

3 – They will “catch me” sitting in front of the TV laughing hysterically watching cartoons of some sort (or an animated movie) even though I am not accompanied by a child.

4 – I will declare a “do nothing day” where the entire family will stay in their p.j.’s, eat things that do not require cooking and are offered in no logical order whatsoever. Pizza for breakfast, cereal for lunch, dessert for dinner, fruits, veggies, chips whenever. No structure – totally random.

5 – Dress completely different than you normally do. If you are a jeans and t-shirt mom, then dress it up. If you are a dress it up mom, then put on some jeans and a t-shirt. Surprise them with a totally different look.

6 – After dinner one night, declare a “story night” and share stories of memories from when you were a child, especially memories where you (or siblings/friends) messed up, did silly things or felt awkward – then they will know you dealt with the same things they deal with and you are doing just fine. Lots of giggling is the goal!

7 – Short sheet everyone’s beds. Which means you fold the very bottom of the top sheet up to the top of the bed and fold it backwards and make it look like the normal folded area at the upper portion of your flat sheet. When they go to get in bed their legs get stuck because it’s been folded up. Make sense?

8 – Wear your clothes inside out (and backwards, if possible) see how long it takes everyone to notice…then invite your children to do the same! You will be the inside out family for the day.

9 – Prepare a “load” of water balloons, place them in cooler outside and when the opportunity presents itself and your children least expect it…fire away!

10 – Loud music, furniture against the walls, flashing lights! Oh yeah, I’m talking dance party…with you leading the way! You can go online and find the electric slide, the cupid shuffle or even swing dancing instructional videos. Big fun!

As you might guess, I have learned that laughing and being light hearted with my children creates a bond that leads to closeness when the need arises to talk of serious matters.

Go ahead, I double dog dare you to give some of these ideas a try!

Cliff Jumping Mom!

Aug
26

Don’t you just love spending nice quiet fun weekends with your family? 

Yeah, me too.

Well…sometimes ya just gotta spend a wild and crazy fun weekend with your family!

This past weekend I think I may have exceeded the definition of wild and crazy fun…have you ever been cliff jumping? It is quite fun – I wrote a post last year about my initial cliff jumping adventure and that left a few people thinking I had lost my mind!

This year we tricked…convinced…uh, I mean invited five other families to join us – and picked up a few extra kids along the way! A good time was had by all – we were there for over six hours.

Interestingly, I think they got hooked - plans are already being made for another day of exhilarating cliff jumping fun!

Woo hoo!  Look out below…

“Mom, Can We Make A Mud Pit?”

May
23

Uh…yeah, I guess so!

      

This is why it is important to be a fun mom – you help your children create memories!