Lori Seaborg

Habits for the New Year

I received an e-newsletter on New Year's Eve that caught my attention. In it, the writer wrote:

Dear Readers,

I've been told it takes four to six weeks for any action to
become a habit. So, keeping that in mind, one way I'm
going to insure my success at keeping my New Year's
resolutions this year is by working on only one new habit
at a time each month. Then, every time I turn to a new
calendar page, I'll work on developing a different good habit.

At the end of the year, I could easily have twelve new positive
habits in my life. Once something's become a habit, it's
simply a part of my life and not something I'll even have to
think about anymore.

What's the area of life you're most concerned about? Exercise?
Weight loss? Healthy eating? Getting organized? Saving money?
Spending more time with your kids? Break your goal down into
simple steps that you can easily manage, and then start working
your way to your goal, one small step -- or small habit -- at a time.
As the old cliche' says: "How do you eat an elephant? ... One bite
at a time."

By making small and consistent changes, it's possible to change
your health, your body, and your life. For more information on the
power of habits, see Catherine Levison's article later in this issue
of The Charlotte Mason Monthly.

Happy New Year!

Simply Yours,

Debi
(Deborah Taylor-Hough)
http://charlottemasoneducation.wordpress.com/
http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/

What a great idea! Instead of goals or resolutions, which I often find hard to meet (primarily because I forget what they were), I will write down some habits to form for each month.

I began my list last night:

* Daily exercise
* Homeschooling tweeked and routines scheduled
* Fruits & Veggies daily
* Nature time, including beach days scheduled
* Storytelling and Reading Aloud
* Guitar learning
* Work hours schedule (I work online, from home)
* Journaling & God time

I don't have 12 things for 12 months yet, but I may not do so quite yet. I'm still thinking over my list, trying to remember my priorities in order of God - Husband - Children - Home - me - Work/Others, and deciding which things are most important.

Remind me to keep you posted on how it goes. Meanwhile, I'd love to read your list!

~ Lori Seaborg
http://loriseaborg.com

Worrying About Tomorrow

A friend wrote a "help!" note to an email group that I'm in with three other high school buddies. Her husband recently found out that he will be laid off on January 1st. Jobless. Like thousands of others, including my husband, who was laid off in November. Below is my response to my friend's call for help...

I'm so sorry, Neiser. That is such tough news. The unknown is always the scariest.

Things are so crazy right now, aren't they? It's insane the number of people who are losing jobs, companies closing, you name it! Good gravy.

You might find some comfort in the verses I cling to in these times -- the ones about how much more important are we than the flowers God clothes and the birds He feeds. There are so many marked up in my Bible! But sometimes I get doubtful and wonder where that leaves the people who are starving in the world or aren't clothed, and then I remind myself to let go of those doubts and just believe it because God said it. Jesus said it. (Matthew 6:25-34)

The last verse is the one that says, "Don't worry about tomorrow, for today has enough trouble of its own." And that's where you are. You're in today. Mike hasn't lost his job today; there is income today; you're all clothed and fed today. I remind myself of that often, too. It's so easy to worry instead of remembering that we're find today.

This time, even though it seems I should be worried, I'm not very often worried. That's because we've been through the really really ugly --- thousands in credit, the house on the brink of foreclosure, and our little garden center went belly-up. I cried so hard through all that, that I ran out of tears! I thought I'd go in the loo-loo bin, I'm not kidding. To make everything "worse," I got unexpectedly pregnant (#3) and he was a footling breech, so I had to have a c-section, with no insurance!

Now, of course, I can see the sunshine above those clouds. We learned to keep out of credit and got it all paid off, we saved the house from foreclosure, we focused our garden center on internet sales, the hospital let us write it all off except for $2000, and of course the baby turned out to be the very thing I needed...He was absolutely a gift straight from God for a time when I needed that baby.

I just want to say that it really is true -- it has been absolutely true in my experience -- that God will clothe us and feed us. He'll take care of us. I use to worry myself sick but when I look back on it, not a lot that I worried about ever happened. Or, if it did happen, like losing our brick-and-mortar storefront, it wasn't the horrible experience that I imagined it would be. I lost a lot of sleep over that! He may not take care of things how we think He should -- we may lose a house or a car -- but in the end, we'll see that that is okay, we're okay, we are able to make it without that anyway. He'll make sure we're okay.

Please let us know if we can help you in any way. Feel free to call or email to vent! I'm so right there with you, Sister!

Love you tons! ~ Lori

-------------------------
Lori Seaborg
http://loriseaborg.com

On Contentment

I'm not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I have not learned to be content in every situation. But I have learned so much.

I've realized that there is always going to be a house bigger and better than my own. Even a mansion owner could find a better, bigger mansion. I've learned that God tells us to offer hospitality even while knowing that our house may not be yet perfect.

I've learned that God doesn't care a fig about money. He cares about my heart. Money is just another "thing" to Him; it is not eternal.

When I am not content, I am in the way of God's work. Being discontent keeps me in the present, obsessing. Being content allows God to move me forward. Hoping. Trusting.

-------------------------
Lori Seaborg
http://loriseaborg.com

Giveaway Alert!!

On FreelyEducate.com, my high quality - 100% free - educational finds blog, Krampf.com is giving away two memberships to his science website.  It's a great giveaway!  All you need to do to enter is leave a comment at FreelyEducate.com. Here's the link:  http://www.freelyeducate.com

And on Just Pure Lovely, the blog that took over Keeping the Home, I posted about our inside-out-and-backwards wearing boy and our daughter who  reads her mama and whom I'd never give away. 

by Lori Seaborg 2008

Hello, Again!

Hey, there, everyone!

I just noticed today that I never gave you the URL to my new front porch.  It's at my domain name, LoriSeaborg.com

I'm at my new blog nearly daily, Just Pure Lovely, where I write about the things that inspire me (but sometimes also the not-so-fun things, because that's part of motherhood). 

I really hope you'll visit me (or that you already do!)

by Lori Seaborg 2008

Curiosity and a New Place to Go

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was a curious woman.  I sure wish we could sit down to tea one day; I'm sure I could learn so much from her.  She and I have at least one thing in common:  Curiosity.  She said,

"I think, at a child's birth,

if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift,

that gift would be curiosity."

I agree!  In homeschool we have a beautiful opportunity to allow our children to follow their curiosity.  We can't know what God is leading their spirit to explore, so let's let them explore!  The same with you.  Allow yourself to explore the things that are stirring up your heart and your mind. 

Mrs. Roosevelt said something else about curiosity that makes me smile.  I can identify so much with this:

"I could not, at any age, be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on.

Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. 

One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life."

I enjoy a fireside, especially with my hands busy with knitting or my mind busy with reading, but that's not her point.  Her point, I think, is that we cannot allow ourselves to sit and say "I can't" while we watch others live and do what we could also enjoy.   

This year I'm focusing on the positive, as I wrote a few days ago.  I'm also more free this year than I've been in 12 years of child-rearing.  Our littlest gal will be 5 years old next month, and although I'm so sorry to see the baby years behind us, I may as well dwell on the positive part of that instead of the negative, so I may as well get excited about all the free time I finally have! 

Time to follow my whims.  My interests.  My curiosity.  I can't wait to follow my curiosity more, both with the children and without them.

I didn't realize I was going to write about curiosity tonight. I was just thinking of Mrs. Roosevelt while working on my new site today.  What new site, you ask?

I have begun blogging at a new site where I can upload more photos (I love photography) and designs (I love art) and crafting excursions (I love ... you know what I'm going to say!).  If I feel a lengthy "text" post coming on, I'll probably post it at the blog I write weekly for Precious Moments (called Precious Moms), which will also get many reruns from the last several years that I've been blogging.  I will, of course, leave the archives open here.  Readers still somehow find them through Google searches. 

But, mostly, I will be at my own domain:  Just Pure Lovely   .  Know why I named my new blog that?) 

And thank you so very, very much to HomeschoolBlogger for great years here and to the many readers I met through this blog. I hope all of you will come to my new site to visit!

by Lori Seaborg 2008

An Empty Cup

I'm exhausted.   Mentally.  Emotionally.

Life hit me with so many blows from Thanskgiving until now.  Some things were really tough, but not everything was so hard.  It's just that each thing added up over time.  I didn't realize just how affected I was until yesterday when my parents left at dawn after a long visit with us.  It was finally just our family and no holiday busyness. I would have thought that would motivate me to get started on the new year, but instead the weight of the weeks finally took their toll.  

Yesterday morning, after I crawled out of bed, I found a note in my mother's handwriting:

"I woke up this morning with Grandpa's verse going around in my head,

'Behold I will do a new thing, Shall Ye not know it? 

I will make a way in the wilderness; rivers in the desert.'

Isaiah 43, I think.  I love you most, Mom"

It doesn't take something "major" to empty our cups.  I recently read a journal entry from 2003 when I sounded utterly exhausted with a new baby and a 7yo, 5yo and 3yo underfoot.  My cup needed filled then, as it does now.  This is an ongoing part of life.

Missionary friends wrote the following in their recent prayer letter:

"What a blessing that even in the whirl of our lives, God's Word keeps our eyes and hearts focused on the never changing Truth that brings consistency to our often upside down world.
 
"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart;

and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."  Psm 34:18

Meditating on that verse the other day then looking out into the eyes (which are the windows of our heart!) of the many sick that sat outside the clinic eager for help, it hit me....we have an awesome opportunity through our medical outreach here.  The depth of the blessing of such an incredible ministry is overwhelming.
 
 Having done a word study on the word "contrite" I found it means broken to little pieces, like gravel.  Gravel is much easier to mold into the shape desired than large stones!  God desires we not be strong in our own selves but allow ourselves to be broken and dependent upon His strength and work in our lives. "

 

 Exactly. I can't say any more than that.

Lori Seaborg, 2008.

Surfing Everyday Life Photos

My new favorite things to surf (always changing, never the same month to month it seems!) are photo blogs of everyday life.  I am so inspired by seeing the beauty of everyday life through a camera lens. 

3191: A Year of Evenings

Six One Way: A Year of Motherhood

Noticing Project: An Image a Day in 2008

and a favorite blog, which is now posting photos for 30 days:

Soule Mama: 30 everyday days

Enjoy them!  Even if you're not big on photography, you will appreciate them for making orange peels in the sink and dirty laundry on the floor and messy kids look like ART.  See?  Our messes are art!  We just need to think of them the right way. 

2008: The Year of the Just Pure Lovely

Lately, I've needed this verse:   

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

This is not only the Year of Health (said with a booming voice, a bit of drama for effect) for our family, but for me personally 2008 is also the Year of the Just Pure Lovely (see those 3 in the above verse?).

This can be lived out in so many ways:

- Figuring out what drags me down, and filtering it out of my life.  One way I've done this:  My FreeHomeschool group has become a burden lately; I receive complaints no matter what I do with the postage rates.  So I'm making it a 100% free group now, which will of course make a few upset that they can no longer charge postage, but it was either that or close the group down.

- Figuring out who brings me up and who drag me down.   I will of course be friendly to everyone, but I need to be discerning about choosing positive people for the bulk of my outside-the-family time.  I need friends who move forward in all areas of their lives, and who motivate me to do so also.   I need friends who easily forgive, since we are all speaking and acting from our own perspective and cannot always know our friends' perspective.  I need friends who are true.  And I need to be that friend, not only to them but also - especially - to myself.

- Figuring out which extracurricular activities we should add.  This is an area I have worked on for years, so feel like it is already positive, but it's an area I must always protect.  It's too easy to get excited about a new activity offering, start something new, get overly busy running around.  But are those things so great that they are worth leaving home to do?  That's what I have to decide.

- Figuring out which t.v. shows, books, movies are positive, and watching only those.  This is a bit tough with movies, because I guess action movies aren't "just pure lovely," yet I like to watch them with my husband to spend time with him and to enjoy something together.  So I hope you know what I mean, when I say that I need to determine which t.v. shows, books, movie are "positive."  Those that add something of value to my life.  Some t.v. shows not only don't teach me anything educational, but they are relaxing or give us something to share as a family.  Other shows not only don't have any "take-away" value, but they also don't relax me.  Those shows don't need to take my time.  And books --books that teach me something, that are creative, or relaxing...those are the books worthy of my time.

- Even online, going to sites that teach me something or are, well, "lovely!"  Those sites that add something of value to my life.  Not sites full of gory news stories or arguments or "twaddle" (a Charlotte Mason term, meaning things of little to no value - this is my interpretation of "twaddle" anyway).  I'm adding more Crafty Blogs to my list of Favorites and more inspirational sites.  More photo blogs and more uplifting music sites have been added, too. 

I'm excited about a Year of the Just Pure Lovely!  It's kind of like I'm finally giving myself permission to do things like spinning and weaving and sewing and reading crafty blogs and time in my rocking chair soaking in the sunshine while watching birds.  And, imagine what our family life will be like if I only speak in a positive tone to Tim and the children! 

I'm writing all of this down for myself, for a record, but thought I'd share it with you, too.  Let me know what you're adding or removing from your life this year!

by Lori Seaborg 2008

p.s.  After writing this article, I started a new blog called "Just Pure Lovely" to fill with things that inspire me, like photography, art, and crafts.  Come visit!

2008: Our Year of Health

We're a pretty healthy family.... actually, really healthy, but I'm not taking that for granted.  Who should these days?  The rates of many diseases are climbing and physical activity is decreasing.  Oh, and I just had my birthday, so age is on my mind.  When I am 67, aren't I going to wish that I had eaten well and moved often while I was only 37?  (yes, it was that birthday). 

So, Tim and I decided that 2008 is our Year of Health.

.....well, okay, I'm the one goofy enough to call it "Our Year of Health," but Tim, being the athlete that he is (team sports are his thing), likes the idea, too. 

My role in this is to work on our eating.  Over the past few years we've made some significant changes, but you can still often hear me saying, "We're no purists!" as I'm holding a bag of Doritos and a Coke at a get-together. 

This is the year I need to be more committed to eating well.  We do well when we're at home, with just our immediate family. But we do poorly when we are out or when we have people over.  So, this year, I'm going to learn more about recipes I can make that will hopefully be accepted by people who don't know what hummus and tabouleh are.

If you are just now getting the urge to eat healthy, but don't know where to begin, here is a great ebook to get you started:  Supermom’s Simple Guide to Healthier Eating for Beginners and Beyond by Erica Johns.  The ebook is not a recipe book, although some recipes are included, but it is more of an educational book.  Through it, you wil learn what foods are good for you, and why.    I found it to be an easy read, while still informational enough to get you started on the right track.

Another job I've given myself is my personal exercise.  Tim, wouldn't touch that area with a 10' pole! (smart man!)  I still need to lose some "baby weight" (the "baby" is four!), but even more than that, I need to feel strong.  Tim gave me a kayak for Christmas (at my request; I told you he is wise!) and we have several other exercise options (like, a road in front of the house for walking or biking - no excuses!), so there is really no reason for me to not move every day.  My goal, for now, is simply to move every day in a way that makes my heart go pitter-pat.  I can't be bothered with timers that make me stare at them and count every loooonnng second, so I'm just going to move to start out.  Maybe later I'll add timers. 

Along with that, I'll continue doing strength training exercises each morning.  It only takes about 8 minutes, so I can't think of an excuse to make me stop doing them. I have really noticed an increase in strength, stamina and even energy in the 3 months since I started doing strength training. Oh, and I lost 11 pounds.  That, too.  ;) 

For strength training exercises, motivation, support, nutrition trackers, articles, and all other Things Needed or Desired for Getting Healthy, check out one of my favorite (free!) sites:  Spark People

Also, our whole family is going to move a lot this year.  We have skinny, tall kids, thanks to genetics, so they don't need to lose weight, but I want them to 1.) Know how to do many types of sports, 2.) Start good habits that will hopefully last a lifetime.  For a while, I was thinking of enrolling the kids in P.E. classes or other sport classes, until it occurred to me that the best coach I can find is right under our roof!  It often takes a smack on the head for ideas to occur to me.  So I'm going to start tossing a ball around with the........Just kidding!  The "best coach under our roof" is not me, the gal who was usually in the bottom 5 chosen kids to be picked for a team.  That would be Tim, our Resident Athlete.   He already plays with the kids, so why not teach them a few moves while he's at it?  I try to look real busy and back out, but Tim usually gets me to join in, too.   When I join in, I make the kids look good.   Real good. 

Visit the sites above, and let me know what you're doing to improve your family's health this year!  I'd love to read your ideas!

by Lori Seaborg 2008

Photobook Winner! And a Coupon

 

We have a PhotoBook winner!  Samantha, congratulations! 

I put all six of the names in a jar and had our 10yo daughter pick one out.  No cheating, I promise!  :) 

It was really fun having a drawing.  I think I'll do another one soon, after I find some more stuff you all might like.  

Hewlitt Packard gave me a coupon code just for my blog readers.   The coupon is good until December 31st.

Thank you for joining the drawing!   Watch for the next one; you just never know when I'll be so inspired.

by Lori Seaborg 2007

A Fun Project & A Drawing for a FREE HP PhotoBook!

I was recently introduced to a fun way to create a photo album that looks like a scrapbook without the mess of scrapbooking or the time it takes.  The trick? 

A PhotoBook from HP (Hewlitt Packard)!

What's super cool is that the HP PhotoBook comes with the software needed.  It's fun to work with, and really easy.  I do wish the program provided even more templates (it comes with about 20), but on the other hand, because of its simplicity and limited choices, you can create a photobook quickly.

Also included in the kit along with the software:  a hardbound PhotoBook cover (sizes available:  8-1/2"x11" and 5"x7"), directions and 12 sheets of photo paper.  In other words, you'll get everything you need except the computer and the printer (you can't expect that, too, can you?).

I'm making one for Christmas for Tim's grandmother, who is 94 years old, so I've been playing around with the program for the past few days. 

To make a PhotoBook,  you open the program (provided) in your computer, then simply choose a template, choose which photos to use, and write some text if you'd like. 

Then, you simply print out the pages on the provided paper, or you have a print service do the printing, and then...insert the printed pages into the PhotoBook! That's it!

If you don't feel like you're a creative person, this is really great for you.  You'll look like a Creative Queen! 

If you are someone who loves creativity and always wants to do more to every project (I totally understand), you'll like knowing that the photobook expands beyond the 12 provided pages, so you can also insert traditional scrapbook pages into the hardbound covers. 

I think Tim's Grandma is going to be so pleased!  And I'm pleased to have a gift for her that is so meaningful yet quick to make.

Soon, I will blog my final product to you.  I'm pretty sure Grandma doesn't get on the Internet.  She doesn't even own a computer (why bother, when you're 94?!).

One of you will be pleased as well, because I have a

spare PhotoBook to give away!  

You'll get a 5"x7" pink or green photobook, mailed to you, for free!  

Put a comment below by Friday midnight (December 7th).  On Saturday, I'll put your names in a sock and have our 4yo pick one out.  She won't have a clue how to cheat! 

Please be sure that I know how to contact you.  You don't have to put your email address in the comment box, if your comment links back to your blog or another place where I can email you. 

I can't wait to see who wins! 

by Lori Seaborg 2007