Raising Adults - From Orange Parenting

A must read...


http://www.orangeparents.org/raising-adults/

"Orange" Parenting

Remember the idea of "Orange Parenting" that I've touched on before in other blogs? This is the idea that by combining the light of the church and faith community (yellow) with the heart and leadership of parents and a caring family (red), we will make a greater impact on our children than either influence alone.

With the change of seasons in the air, what better time than to create some rhythms with your children? Let's face it, time is moving fast and it's limited.

According to the book Parenting Beyond Your Capacity by Reggie Joyner and Carey Nieuwhof, which incorporates the Orange Factor, "Rhythm in your home actually shapes your family values". This was definitely true in my home growing up.

In the book it states that:

 Rhythm sets certain expectations and eliminates others. It establishes what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. The rhythm in your home determines what gets talked about and what doesn't get talked about. Things that become part of the daily rhythm, whether transactional or truly meaningful,  become things that our families will come to believe are most important. Rhythm silently but significantly communicates value.

Some of us grew up in a home where going to church and God was not part of our rhythm. For some of us, God was part of our Sunday rhythm but like fine china, He never showed up on any other day. These rhythms or lack of, have taught us what is valuable and what is not. As adults, some of us struggle with the inability to cope with the trials of life because of rhythms or lack of healthy rhythms during our childhood. Don't we want to write a better story for our children?

I came across this blog entry from orangeparents.org and it is such a sweet idea for getting into a rhythm at night by starting the tradition of asking about their favorite part of the day.

http://www.orangeparents.org/favorite-things/

And here is another one. If your house is like mine, there are at times, three TVs going with various sports and kid's shows, an Xbox, two computers, and cell phones with every app from Angry Birds to weather updates to baseball scores, to Facebook and Twitter updates. We are ridiculously "plugged-in"....or are we?

http://www.orangeparents.org/how-to-abandon-your-family-without-meaning-to/

Remember that everything doesn't have to be right in you or about you before you can be a positive influence in your children's lives. Your kids already have a front-row seat to your life. The question is, what are they watching? What if you were a parent turning in a brand new way to Christ’s love and you were able to give your son and daughter a front row seat to the grace of God? I bet your kids would never forget the change they see in you. And you could one day tell them how it happened.

 Here is a prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Help prepare our minds and hearts for the requirements of what it takes to "tune-in". Help us to know what is useless, that we may not give unnecessary energy, and to know what is worthwhile, that we may acquire strength through the power of truth.

Amen.

Crafting - Fall Wreath

Recently, I have found myself spending hours daydreaming on a website called http://pinterest.com/. Seriously, don't go there...it's HIGHLY addictive! So, I found this idea for a fall wreath on Pinterest which took me back to a blog spot called http://brightboldbeautiful.blogspot.com/. I'm really not sure who originally made this wreath but I would like to give her props because it's just beautiful! Here is the original picture I found on Pinterest.

And here... is my version that I made for about $45. I was pretty cost conscious although I'm sure if I shopped around I could make it for even less.

I saw wreaths at Hobby Lobby that were simply made from fall leaves and berries that were priced anywhere from $40 to $120 and they were not near as unique. You can do this! Seriously, you can!

Dana


And here is another idea:

Banner (their version)

I'm guessing it says, "HAPPY HALLOWEEN".



And here...is mine.

"FALL"

• Burlap
• Twine
• Scrapbook paper
• Spray Adhesive
• Ribbon
• Paint