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Spiritual Parenting Thought for the Month (SM)

Brought to you by Mimi Doe

July, 2011

V13 #4

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This newsletter is my gift to you in the hopes of empowering children and parents everywhere to live more joyful, connected lives.

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- THE RHYTHIM OF SUMMER

- WHAT'S WORKING NOW?

-WHAT'S NEW

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It does no good to think moralistically about how much time we waste. Wasted time is usually good soul time.

------Thomas Moore

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THE RHYTHM OF SUMMER

Greetings,

It's summertime and the living should be a little easier. Have you downshifted your rhythm into a slower pace? When you think of summer what comes to mind? Catching minnows at the local pond? Licking an ice cream cone with your dad? Take time out for activities reminiscent of your childhood and create some new summer rituals with your kids. Sprinkle some of the following ideas into your balmy summer days and recapture the essence of summer:

EVENING PICNIC DINNER -- Let your kids loose in the kitchen to invent their own concoctions. Maybe they could create a portable summer menu using fruit on a stick, sandwiches, crackers and peanut butter -- then pack it all up for an evening picnic dinner. One mother waits all year for summertime cooking with her kids: "I take two weeks off each summer to relax with my four children. We plan summer feasts in the cold winter months. We don't go away on a fancy vacation but we pretend we're at the shore with our lobster bakes and in a Parisian cafe sipping iced tea. My kids are young but they know how to peel ginger and giggle over kitchen adventures."

GAME TABLE -- Set up a game table on your porch, deck, or under a shady tree -- a simple card table will do. Buy a large plastic, waterproof bin with a snug top to store puzzles, games, and a deck of cards. Maybe your house will be known as the "place to stop for a good game of chess or checkers."

BUTTERFLIES -- Don't take butterflies for granted; any creature that smells stuff with their feet is pretty cool. Gardens, meadows, fields, and woods are great places for spotting these beautiful nectar feeders. Is there milkweed growing in a vacant lot near your home? If so, it's a sure bet your kids will find some Monarchs. Read up on butterflies: North America's Favorite Butterflies by Patti and Milt Putnam is just the right size for little hands. Bring a sketch pad to draw the varieties you see: mourning cloak, American painted lady, gray hairstreak, great spangled fritillary.

STATE OF THE WEEK -- Select one state a week and focus your reading, games, songs, words on that state. Scholastic's The Kids' Book of the 50 Great States and Harry N. Abrams' detailed Art of the State series should prove helpful. If this week is Mississippi week, how about cooking up some shrimp scampi and learning about 'gators or kudzu?

MAKE POPSICLES -- Don't forget the magical summer ritual of freezing fruit juice into Popsicles. Add a little surprise by dropping a tiny piece of fruit into the bottom of one of the paper cups before freezing. Who will be the lucky recipient of the fruit pop? That person is then responsible for selecting the ingredients for the next batch of Popsicles. We get so fancy….so busy….dash off to the newest frozen yogurt shop, that we can forget the simple joy of a paper cup popsicle.

WONDERS TABLE -- Set up a "summer wonders table" on your porch or in a corner of a room. Invite everyone to put items on the table that appeal to them -- a stone or shell they found at the beach, something from the farmer's market with an unusual smell or taste, a piece of seaglass or driftwood, a piece of colorful fabric, seeds and feathers, etc. As you pass by your wonders table, pause and drink in all the color, textures, patterns, and memories of gathering your special pieces.

A FEAST FOR BIRDS -- Put up a bird feeder and see who shows up. Try this: Stand very still by your feeder, holding some birdseed in your hand. After a few times of doing this, you may have some birds come to YOU for a snack! Keep very still, and let them feast.

LOOK AT THE STARS -- Warm summer nights invite us to look at the skies. Put some blankets on the ground, and invite your neighbors to come over for star-gazing. Is there an astrologist in your neighborhood? Invite him/her to point out constellations. Afterward, share your memories with each other over ice cream sundaes (or those homemade popsicles)!

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As often as you can, take a trip out to the fields to pray. All the grasses will join you. They will enter your prayers and give you strength to sing praises to God.

----- Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

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It is a happy talent

to know how to play.

----- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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WHAT'S WORKING NOW?

Here we are in July, halfway through the year, it's a great time to do a quick life scan. How are your days flowing? Are you satisfied with the current circumstances in your life? Is there a particular area that needs attention?

Take the following Balance Barometer when you have some time to reflect. The results will help you re-focus and hone in on what areas need attention in order to experience more balance in your life.

BALANCE BAROMETER

Answer YES or NO to these statements.

1. I get between 8 and 10 hours of sleep a night.

2. I usually wake up feeling positive about the day ahead.

3. I have enough time with my children.

4. I have enough time with my partner.

5. I have enough time for myself.

6. I have enough time for my career.

7. I feel loved and cherished.

8. My home feels organized most of the time.

9. There is beauty around me in my home.

10. I earn what I deserve.

11. I have 6 to 9 months of living expenses in liquid savings.

12. I have begun a college savings plan for my children.

13. I have begun a retirement savings plan for myself.

14. My will and guardian decisions for my kids are in order.

15. I am recognized for my accomplishments.

16. I have a spiritual practice that nourishes my soul.

17. My spouse and I are in agreement about our children's spiritual development.

18. I feel connected to my family.

19. I feel connected with a community of some sort.

20. I have a close friend I speak with often.

21. I am within 5 pounds of my ideal weight.

22. I eat healthy meals most of the time.

23. I watch television less than 7 hours a week.

24. There are many more accomplishments I hope to have but I am at peace with the core of my life.

25. I joyfully anticipate the future.

1-2 NO: Bravo! You have taken control of the details of your life and are satisfied with your current circumstances. You have created a solid structure for your family so that you can approach the rest of the year with joyful expectation.

3-5 NO: Create a plan for approaching loose ends. You're more than halfway there. You'll find lots more energy once you've attended to the "undone" list.

6+ NO: You are dissatisfied with how your life is working. Now is the time to take control of circumstances so they don't control you. Make a commitment to create more balance in the second half of this year by taking action on at least 1 item from the above list.

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THINGS I LOVE THESE DAYS

1. Dream Manifestation Wizard

I'll let the developer of these transformational products tell you about them in his own words as mine don't do justice:

Manifest any goal, desire or life dream with this new award winning audio and software program. A simple and highly efficient process, using the power of your intention combined with images and your own voice, to reprogram your mind for instant and lasting success.

This is an amazing gift of empowerment and will uplift you this month or anytime. If you have a dream, this will help manifest that dream. I spend time each week editing my Dream Manifestor images and lists as my dreams come true almost as fast as I can articulate and put them up!!

3. Pinterest

A place to catalog the things you love. I love pretty pictures of joyful things and this website is beyond cool. You can essentially create an online folder of your favorite visual images -- dream kitchens, soulful porches, yummy food....you name it. Check it out and begin taking "pretty breaks" during your busy day and gazing at pictures from your files of delight. Share with your Facebook friends. It's free and it's fun.

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~*~WHAT'S NEW~*~

WHAT I'M LISTENING TO THESE DAYS

Lately I've been listening to Steve Halperns OM Zone on my laptop as I work. It transports me to ease and calm. Check out this instrumental CD and I promise you will find a new serenity. What soothing music do you love? I need some new songs.

MIMI BLOGS

Click HERE to visit my Blog. You can bookmark it on Google to receive updates of new posts. Do leave comments and suggestions so we can have a virtual conversation.

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CREATE SUMMER DREAMS

Make ALL your dreams come true with the Dream Manifesto!

For YEARS I have been creating vision boards or treasure maps using poster boards and images of what

I would like to manifest in my life...Literally for about 24 years...

Up until now...

Now, since I'm on my computer so much of the time...I've installed this easy to use software, literally I had it up and running in less than 5 minutes, and my images are scheduled to appear with sound...that I've created...every few hours...reminding me of what I wish to focus upon...

It's crazy cool! In fact, I have had to delete most of the images I first put up as they HAVE COME TRUE. Time for new dreams!

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TREAT YOUR TEENAGERS TO STRESS FREE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS!

If your children are in high school, pick up a copy of my book: Don't Worry You'll Get In: 100 Tips for Stress Free College Admission. I believe that knowledge is power and have created various ways to help make the application and admissions process less stressful.

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CREATE A LIFE LIVED ON PURPOSE

Busy but Balanced

Begin RIGHT NOW to craft a more balanced life!

This book takes you through the year, week by week...Full of tips, tools, ideas and inspiration for crafting a family life that is calm, centered, and full of joy!

Live a committment and intention to craft a life of calm and ease. Dive into this weekly, inspirational guide for living a more meaningful life. Your own new semester of sorts.

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Spiritual Parenting Thought for the Month (SM) is written and produced by Mimi Doe and Karen Adolphson. If you have any stories to share, questions or comments, please send them to: Editor@SpiritualParenting.com. We'd love to hear from you!

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Mimi Doe, Author of:
"Nurturing Your Teenager's Soul"
"Busy But Balanced"
"10 Principles for Spiritual Parenting"
"Drawing Angels Near"

http://www.SpiritualParenting.com