Taking {capsule} Pills

So, do you want to know the trick to swallowing capsule pills?  We've got the tried and true answer, thanks to Kristine who was told recently by a local pharmacist.  But hang tight...why you may ask did this trick come in handy?

Well...T came home Friday afternoon crying because his ear hurt...two hours later, the doctor confirmed he had an ear infection.  He asked up if T could swallow pills.  He'd never done before, but we figured it couldn't be that hard, right?  Our first attempt Friday evening was unsuccessful.  If you could have only seen T's facial expressions the 4+ times he tried.  In the end, we broke the capsule and poured the inside on a spoon to swallow.  With one pill down and nineteen to go, I figured somewhere during the next ten days he'd learn to swallow a pill...but I didn't think it'd be the next morning.

Later that night we were telling Herb and Kristine about our efforts and Kristine shared the method she had learned.  Place the capsule in your mouth...fill mouth with water...bend forward at the waist...begin swallowing.  The capsule floats, so by bending forward, the capsule floats to the top (which is now at the back of your mouth) making it the first thing you swallow.  Cool, huh!?  It worked the first time T tried it Saturday morning and has been proud of this accomplishment ever since!

Work

(an excerpt from my conversation with William this morning as we pulled out of our neighborhood on the way to his school)

W: "Are you going to daddy's office?"
mom: "Yes."
W: "Why?"
mom: "Because daddy works hard for our family and he has lots of work to do, so I go to his office to help him."
W: "Because you love him?"
mom: "Why, yes."
(enough said)

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man, since you know you will received an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving." - Colossians 3:23-24

W-I-L-L-I-A-M

William's first official paper from school where he wrote his name.
(W = down up down up down; I = line dot; L = line; A = up down line across; M = up down up down up)

FIlling their love tank

Since Christmas, God has really opened my eyes to the very noticeable ways T and WY are different.  While I've always heard no two children raised in the same house are the same, and I know that to be true, it's been awesome and humbling to see what makes each boy "tick" these days.

The Five Love Languages of Children authors, Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell, M.D., write; “For a child to feel love, we must learn to speak her unique love language. Every child has a special way of perceiving love. There are basically five ways children (indeed, all people) speak and understand emotional love. They are: physical touch, words of affirmation, quality time, gifts, and acts of service.”  The better we become at identifying how children express love and need love expressed to them better equips us to be the parents God called us to be.  And while we should use all five love languages with each child, generally one (or sometimes two) language(s) will "speak" the loudest.

No doubt about it, William is our quality time and physical touch child.  He needs nearness and focused attention.  He wants you with him.  Snuggle with him.  Hold his hand.  Lie beside him to read books.  Play with him.  He needs confirmation you will "come and sit with me" when finished with a task.  Simply being together without other distractions fills his love tank.  He still loves being held and continues to give "big hugs", kisses and nose kisses.

Quality time and physical touch is important to Thompson, but not powerful as the love language of words of affirmation.  Words of praise, love, encouragement and thanksgiving quickly fill his love tank.  One perfect example was his response to the letters written to him by loved ones for his 7th birthday.  I also think there are times when acts of service remind him he's loved.  He'll sometimes ask for help with tasks we know he can do alone, yet taking a moment (or a few) to help, demonstrates our love for him through service.

Do you know who loves you?

William has recently enlightened us and others on love.  "Do yo know who loves you all the time? Even more than mom and dad?" {who?} "God. You know who loves you all the time and even at Christmas?" {who?} "Santa Claus." {while he's got the first concept right, I'm thinking Santa loves in a way remarkably similar to mom and dad.}

my boys

  

pictures by my dear friend and photographer Jill Fink Schwarzkopf, Realities Photography

25 Point Manifesto for Sanity in 2013

my how I love what Ann has to share!

{so I'm passing it along}

 

~ Written for you with love, by Ann Voskamp 

January 24, 2013

www.aholyexperience.com

Nearing the end of January here, first month of the year. Now’s when things are starting to get hard, and new habits, those things that we wear, start to wear thin. When you start feeling a bit overwhelmed and not sure how to overcome. So we nail it to our doors — our 25 point manifesto for sanity in 2013. 

1. First things first: Word in. Work out. Work plan.

Open your eyes every morning and just do three first:

Word in: Get into God’s Word and let it get into you.
Work out: Work out. Even 5 minutes of moving is better than nothing. (Baby steps! Together we can do this!)
Work plan: Write out the work plan. And then work the plan.

2. “What a heart knows by heart is what a heart knows”

Write your memory verses on a sticky note, on a chalkboard, for your pocket. Because when you are memorizing Scripture, quiet time with the Lord — becomes all the time. (Who doesn’t want that?)

3. Flame first.

Light a candle first thing in the morning. So you remember: You are the light that is put on a stand so that it gives light to everyone in the house.

4. Your work is art: it needs a soundtrack.

Find your music. Play your music. Sing your music. This is profound.  Vincent van Gogh said: “When sailors have to move a heavy load or raise an anchor, they all sing together to keep them up and give them vim. That’s just what artists lack.”

5. Step on the Snake Before Breakfast

Before breakfast, crush one hard thing that is tempting you to think there are impossible things. Before breakfast, crush that one thing and prove that all things are possible with God.

6. Stay in the pool

Michael Phelps said it in an interview: “You’ve got to stay working in the pool longer than others.” Set the timer. Get in the pool. Stay in the pool. Do you work. Don’t get distracted. Don’t flit from one thing to another and back. Don’t get out of the pool, don’t leave your work, until the timer goes. The way to win is to stay in the pool.

7. Clean a space = clear headspace

Keeping the workspace clean, clears your headspace to think.

8. Go Slow. Life Zone.

Life isn’t an emergency. It’s a gift. It’s so extraordinary it warrants going slow, held in reverential awe. Only the slow see their lives. Which makes it seem longer and richer.

9. Take your Laughter vitamins

The more you laugh, the longer you live. You can’t afford not to laugh more. Watch this. Make laughter your chocolate.

10. No songs without rhythm

Every song needs a rhythm; every week needs a routine. Tie certain tasks to a day or another activity. Always memorize after breakfast or always make a double batch of soup on Saturday. Your life makes music when you play a string of tasks always together.

11. On 25, Take 5

For every 25 minutes “in the pool” working – take 5 minutes off. Live by pomodoros. Really. Life-changing.

12. Unplug to plug into your purpose

Only if you want to plug into peace and purpose and your big picture – then unplug for certain hours everyday. Constant connectivity effects productivity like a marijuana high.

13.Watch Your Nos; Your Yeses will take Care of Themselves

Everything you say yes to, you say no to something else. Are your yeses forcing you to say no to what really want to say yes to? Don’t have guilt over a no – because every no is saying a better yes.

14. Daily Stillness Appointment
When is your 5 minute stillness appointment everyday?  Write that midday time in stone. No cancellations allowed. For 5 minutes midday, be still and cease striving.  Know He is God and the day looks very different.  Slow down: You only pass by this way once.

15. If the Heaven’s Declare, get out there.
The whole of the sky and the world is speaking endlessly of His glory.  When you step outside and listen, your soul revives. You need that.  You really need one walk outside a day.

16. Work on your Wall before Noon
Before noon, work on your wall; lay three bricks down before 12.  If you don’t intentionally work on your wall, the tyranny of the urgent can make your life a rubble heap.  Like Nehemiah, build your wall, building what God has called you to, 3 steps everyday before noon

17. Envision the End Goal
Like God gave Abraham a vision of the stars of the sky and told him he would have that many children, hang up a picture so you always have a vision of your goal.

18. Consistently be Consistent
Random acts of greatness pale in comparison to habitual acts of faithfulness.  It’s not what you do every now and then, but what you do everyday, that changes everything. Do something at the same time everyday and you find yourself a new person.

19. Hard Stops
The only way to get anywhere safely is to make complete stops.  Make hard, complete stops at set times throughout the day to pray. Otherwise you’re risking a crash.  9, 12, 3, on the hour, might be times to set an a gentle, chime alarm for – and just stop and pray.  Praying at set times throughout the day is how both Jesus and the early church lived their days: God marking time.

20. Do the Holy, Happiness Habit
Write down 3 things a day you are grateful for. Hunt for His glory. Look for the beauty. Count 1000 gifts.  All research says that giving thanks is guaranteed to make you 25% happier. Who. Doesn’t. Want. That.?  Thank Him for this is definitely God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Take the Joy Dare! Make right where you are your happy place.

21. Ebenezers for the Efforts
Mark little milestones! Celebrate the little things!  A treat at the end of the day, end of the week, end of the project, end of the term.
Hang a bunting. Taste something sweet. Take a happy, thumbs up picture to mark your progress!  Make an album of a year, of the process, of the overcoming.

22. Father Affirmations
You need these everyday. Whisper them aloud, who you really are if you are IN Christ:
I am complete in Christ. Colossians 2:9-10
I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:14-16
I am free from condemnation. Romans 8:1-2
I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances. Romans 8:28
I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God. Romans 8:31-39
I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me. Philippians 1:6
I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

23. Breathe
Breathing in and breathing out like this will radically change the quality of your life.  Breathe.

24. Hard and Bad? Hot Bath
An evening routine of a hot bath at the end of the hard and bad days?  Yes.

25. Rest so you can have the rest of God.
Sleep is more than your friend — it’s your God-given fuel.  Tomorrow always begins with the night before, so turn in early so tomorrow can turn out well.